Article Comment and Response to Question
One strongly agrees with the main contention in the article that money apparently not the real cause of happiness. The revelations which apparently provide validating evidences which confirm that money could initially bring about only temporary happiness could actually be related to the hierarchy of needs. When a need or a drive has fully been satiated, that need stops to be a motivating factor. Thus, it was commendable to emphasize that for people who have reportedly won the lottery, after a time when all the basis needs (or even wants) have been attained, these people who have derived a certain level of happiness from consuming these needs would ultimate realize that when these have been fulfilled, they would be looking for other higher needs or drives to make them happy. This could be the challenges faced in organizations regarding designing motivational programs that would cater to the distinct and evolving needs of the employees. Some could be initially motivated by monetary rewards; but this would only motivate until the needs associated with money are fully satiated. After that, employees would eventually seek other factors to motivate them including recognition, acknowledgement, a more challenging and empowering endeavor and being able to be duly appreciated for work well done.
Response to Question
This article confirms and validates the theory of Maslow: hierarchy of needs. It also applies to me personally. It is true that when basic needs (physiological, security, and social needs) have been met and satiated, one would ultimately seek higher level needs to be fulfilled (esteem and self-actualization needs). Likewise, seeing the contents from the perspective of Herzberg’s two-factor model, pay or monetary considerations would be classified under hygiene factors: the presence of which would truly not motivate, but their absence would cause dissatisfaction in the work place. I am convinced that happiness could temporarily be attained through material needs which could only be satisfied through money or financial resources. However, long term happiness could be realized through facets that could not be bought: good health, smooth interpersonal relationships, and sharing the blessings received in life.
