Content theory

<p>Content theories are theories about the internal factors that motivate people. They typically focus on the goals that people aim to achieve and the <a href="/facts/Need/s7hd9Xc5">needs</a>, <a href="/facts/Drive_theory/IpHhJh1I">drives</a>, and <a href="/facts/Desires/wGGhA9G8">desires</a> that influence <a href="/facts/Human_behavior/AnYA87pl">their behavior</a>. Content theories contrast with process theories, which examine the <a href="/facts/Cognitive/ga0tSBul">cognitive</a>, <a href="/facts/Emotional/kvAr22wa">emotional</a>, and <a href="/facts/Decision-making/NbJYprSw">decision-making</a> processes that underlie human motivation. Influential content theories are <a href="/facts/Abraham_Maslow/nk2oukYf">Maslow</a>'s <a href="/facts/Hierarchy_of_needs/cme8UcUx">hierarchy of needs</a>, <a href="/facts/Frederick_Herzberg/VApIc9J6">Frederick Herzberg</a>'s <a href="/facts/Two-factor_theory/H6sGaj1V">two-factor theory</a>, and <a href="/facts/David_McClelland/xua62cUu">David McClelland</a>'s learned needs theory.
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Content theory open-in-new

Content theory