Deconstruction of Hierarchical Models of Motivation: A Comparative Analysis of A. Maslow's Pyramid and Self-Determination Theory in the Genesis of Procrastination

Abstract

This article is devoted to a critical analysis of two competing conceptual models of motivation in the context of the phenomenon of procrastination. A. Maslow's hierarchical model of needs (1943), despite its widespread use in management and pedagogical practice, reveals fundamental limitations in explaining procrastination in people with satisfied basic needs. Self-determination theory (SDT) by E. Deci and R. Ryan is considered as an alternative explanatory framework, which interprets procrastination not as a behavioral flaw or a manifestation of weakness, but as a protective psychological mechanism arising from the frustration of three basic intrinsic needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Based on a comparative analysis of both models and relying on diagnostic tools—the General Procrastination Scale (PASS) and the Basic Psychological Needs Index (BPNS)—the article substantiates the transition from a deficit logic to a process-oriented approach in motivation management. Practical mechanisms for reframing tasks aimed at restoring intrinsic motivation in academic and professional environments are proposed. The scientific novelty of the work lies in proving that procrastination is a diagnostically significant signal of autonomy deficit, rather than a consequence of individual personality flaws.