Motivation may be defined as the process of stimulating people to action to accomplish desired goals. It involves arousing needs and desires in people to initiate and direct their behavior in a purpose manner. Motivation is a psychological phenomenon which arises from the feeling of need and wants of individuals. It causes goal directed behavior. 

Following are the five types of needs which govern human motivation.

• Physiological needs. These needs are basic for human survival and include need for food, water, air shelter, sleep, thirst, sex, etc. 
• Security of Safety needs. These are the needs for physical safety as well as psychological security and include safety of person and property, security of job and need for a predictable, secure and safe environment. 
• Social needs/Affiliation/Belonging needs. These are needs for belongingness, friendship, love, affection, attention, and social acceptance. 
• Esteem or ego needs. These needs are needs for self-esteem and need for other esteem. Self-esteem needs include needs for self-respect, self-confidence, competence, autonomy and knowledge. Other esteem needs relate to reputation, prestige, power, status, recognition and respect for others. According to Maslow, these needs are related to one another and are arranged in an order of hierarchy of prepotency.