David McClelland identifies three key needs which inform social dynamics between individuals, groups, and additionally at the level of entire nation-state societies:

1. Need for Achievement (N ach)
   focus on goals, improving performance, task, measurable and tangible results; also associated with self-discipline, schedule-keeping, responsibility, success oriented, lack of group orientation;

2. Need for Affiliation (N aff)
   focus on human companionship, interpersonal relations, concern for others;

3. Need for Power (N pow)
   desire to control resources, others, the environment.

How Social Motives Relate to SYMLOG Field Theory

McClelland's study of needs is more closely related to the SYMLOG Individual and Organizational Values space than many other models addressing social interaction, because the latter tend to focus on behaviors. Thus a parallel may be found between the conflicting demands of the three key needs and the conflicts among the various SYMLOG Individual and Organizational Values. For instance, if the need for achievement is given primary attention, the need for affiliation will likely receive less emphasis.

How McClelland's Social Motives Relate to SYMLOG Field Theory

The parallel between the two theories however is limited. Unlike the SYMLOG bipolar dimensions, McClelland's key needs are unidirectional. When these needs are mapped in the SYMLOG space, they account for activity only in the UPF octant. Need for power is akin to the Upward vector in the SYMLOG space, need for affiliation is akin to the Positive vector, and need for achievement to the Forward vector. Values and behavior that comprise the remaining seven octants of the SYMLOG three-dimensional model are not addressed.

Selected References

McClelland, D. (1961). The achieving society. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand.

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