Final answer:
The concept of individuals seeking fair treatment aligns with Equity Theory option (c) in the context of motivation. Maslow's Theory, with its Hierarchy of Needs, provides a different perspective, focusing on a progression of needs that culminates in self-actualization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that people want to be treated fairly is at the core of Equity Theory option (c). This theory of motivation suggests that individuals are motivated by a desire for fairness in the workplace and believe that fair treatment is linked to equitable pay and work conditions. When employees perceive an inequity, they may be motivated to reduce it, either by altering their inputs (effort, quality of work) or the outcomes they receive (pay, recognition).
Understanding how this desire for fair treatment aligns with other theories of motivation is crucial. For instance, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs addresses motivation in a more layered approach, starting with physiological needs and moving up to safety, love/belonging, esteem, and finally self-actualization. Maslow believed that lower-level needs must be satisfied before the higher-level needs would serve as motivators.