David McClelland American psychologist Date of Birth: 20.05.1917 Country: USA

Biography of David McClelland

David McClelland was an American specialist in psychology, known for his research in the field of achievement motivation. Born in Mount Vernon, New York State, McClelland obtained his bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in 1938 and a year later, he became a master's graduate of the University of Missouri. He earned his doctoral degree from Yale University and went on to work at Connecticut College and Wesleyan University before joining Harvard University.

McClelland worked at Harvard for 30 years and eventually became the head of the Department of Social Relations. In 1987, he moved to Boston University where he was later awarded the American Psychological Association's prize for "outstanding scientific contribution."

One of McClelland's most significant contributions was his theory of needs. He proposed that specific needs develop in individuals over time and are shaped by the influence of the surrounding environment. These needs can be classified into several subtypes: the need for achievement, the need for affiliation, and the need for power. These needs determine a person's motives and effectiveness in different domains.

Individuals with a high need for achievement are often inclined to take risks and prefer playing with a 50% chance of success, as they do not find easy victories satisfying. Those with a need for affiliation strive for harmonious relationships and seek attention and approval from others. Lastly, individuals with a need for power can be classified into two groups – those who desire personal power and those who seek institutional power. The former group wants to directly control their environment and may not be popular in group settings, while the latter group prefers organizing the work of subordinates for the benefit of the organization as a whole.

Based on this classification, McClelland refined the thematic apperception test and drew important conclusions about effective motivational methods.