Alderfer suggested that a person can be motivated by fulling three types of needs – Existence, relatedness and Growth (ER

To bring Maslow’s need hierarchy theory of motivation in synchronization with empirical research, Clayton Alderfer redefined it in his own terms. His re-work is called as ERG theory of motivation. He re-categorized Maslow’s hierarchy of needs into three simpler and broader classes of needs: •            Existence needs- it corresponds to an individual’s physiological and safety needs as given by Maslow •            Relatedness needs- Maslow’s social, love and belongingness needs fall under this class of need. •            Growth needs- Maslow’s self-actualization needs and esteem needs fall under this category of need. It is different from Maslow’s theory in the sense that multiple needs can be satisfied at sae time. However satisfaction of one need does not lower the motivation to fulfil another.