ABSTRACT
The first part of this chapter offers a historical overview of the most influential motivation theories and constructs in psychology. While none of the mainstream theories provide a comprehensive overview of why humans act and think as they do, they are all useful in accounting for specific key aspects of why people choose certain courses of action and how much energy they invest in them. The second part of the chapter reviews the rise of social motivation and how the increased recognition of the impact of the sociocultural context has challenged the traditional cognitive theories. A brief overview will be provided about each main dimension of the overall context, from peer group influence to the motivational role of culture.
