Second reflection The Influence of Needs on Motivation to Learn

MMSEL

2010120029

Section C

By : Rida Sahridah

Schunk (2008) states that a need is an internal force or drive to attain or to avoid a certain state or object. From the statement that I believe that we do something because of avoiding or attaining certain state or object. For instance, we need to eat food because we avoid hunger.

Since I was born, I do not really think that all what I do is related to what I avoid or attain that motivate me to think or act. So what did happen when I was in high school? Did I grow up amazingly?

Is there any indicator to indicate needs of human?  Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is the answer.  Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is stages of needs from basic to top stage. Through his hierarchy of needs I can measure myself which stage I stand.

First stage is survival. This stage is the very basic need of me. Shelter, warmth, food and water are needs in this stage. I thank for my parents because until today all of these stuffs are fulfilled more than enough. Second stage is safety. This stage is about freedom from physical or emotional threat. To me there is no any situation which gives bad threat. My family and my country are in peace. I do love my family and my family loves me too. This stage is also related to third stage. The third stage is belonging. Being loved and having friends are the characteristics of this stage. Proudly say that I have many friends. I have a friendship since I was in elementary school, I have some closest friends and I have some best friends of me. The fourth stage is self-esteem. This stage for me is time to think the whole of myself. I would not want to be anybody else. I am trying to find what I can do the best and how people accept me. Just as me. I pass first four stages in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The four stages called as deficiency needs. How about the last on top stage?

To completing our needs based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is the top stage, self-actualization. Self-actualization is reaching one’s full potential. Once I pass those four stages on deficiency needs, I can focus on the growth needs that can lead to self-actualization. I think I have not reached it yet.  According to theories motivation that in contrast with deficiency needs, the need for self-actualization is never completely satisfied.

Another theory is the need for self-determination. Self-determination is the need to act on and control one’s environment (R. Ryan & Deci, 2000).  I realized that my parents, my family and my teachers helped me a lot to gain my competence. Cameron (2005) says that my perception of competence is evidence that my knowledge and skills are increasing.  My father and my mother threat democratic enough to me. Since I was a very little I could choose anything I want based on their offers and permission. However I have never felt that I am autonomous. Until now I cannot stand alone. If I seem I can stand alone it means that I am trying to. My need for relatedness are high enough. I am a person who relates everything with my feeling. Sometimes I feel bad of me who cannot make others happy. I feel sorry for that.

The last is the need to preserve self-worth.  Schunk (2008) states that self-worth is an emotional reaction to or an evaluation of the self. To getting this self-worth I do something. I like self-handicapping term.  Self-handicapping is action that can lead to get self-worth. When I was in junior high school I was very ashamed for being someone who always be called by teachers. When my friend said that why always should be me to be called, I just said that my name was easier to be remembered not because another reasons. Whereas I was very happy to be called and felt appreciated so I was always available. Hopefully from now on I can fulfill all my needs to attain the real me.