Needs for achievement, affiliation and power influence the behaviour of adolescents: Needs for achievement energies and directs behaviour as well as influences the perception of situations. During the formative years of social development, children acquire achievement motivation. They learn it from their parents, other role models, and socio-cultural influences. They have stronger than average desire for feedback on their performance, that is to know how they are doing, so that they can adjust their goals to meet the challenge.

Everybody need company or friend or want to maintain some form of relationship with others. Nobody likes to remain alone all the time. Formation of group is an important feature of human life. It involves motivation for social contact. Need for affiliation is aroused when individuals feel threatened or helpless and also when they are happy. People high on this need are motivated to seek the company of others and to maintain friendly relationships with other people.

Need for power is an ability of a person to produce intended effects on the behaviour and emotions of another person. The various goals of power motivation are to influence, control, persuade, lead and charm others.