What Are 3 Main Needs That McClelland Based His Acquired Needs Theory On?

Three Needs Theory

David McClelland saw Motivation as primarily intrinsic and said that it arose from three main needs:

Achievement

Affiliation

Power

The Need for achievement involves embracing challenges, being goal-oriented, and taking calculated risks.

The need for affiliation involves wanting to belong, yearning to be liked, and focusing on collaboration over competition.

The need for power involves wanting to influence others, being competitive, and striving to attain high status.

Employees could be motivated by a blend of these needs. For example, an employee may be achievement-oriented and still want to be liked.

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Sharam Kohan
Sharam Kohan

Sharam Kohan is an organizational leadership professional with experience spanning employment law, human resources, and public service. He is currently an LL.M. degree candidate at UC Berkeley School of Law and previously served on Alameda County’s Human Relations Commission, advancing equity-focused community initiatives. He holds an Employment Law specialization from Temple University School of Law and is SHRM-certified.

Sharam is also a writer whose work explores the intersection of law and philosophy, including Judgment, a Priori Itself and Sartre’s Conception of Freedom. He comments on organizational dynamics and social issues, and supports Bay Area community organizations through philanthropy and volunteer service.

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