The article attempts to understand and consider various psychological theories of motivation that currently exist, reflecting different approaches to the study of motives itself. And an attempt to reveal the essence of motivation, its structure, mechanisms of motivational processes, to trace the formation of the motivational sphere of a person. The subject of research is causal relationships of human behavior, such concepts as motive and motivation, structure and hierarchy of motives, goal setting and individual aspirations. The object of research is the individual's manifestations in behavioral acts aimed at satisfying their needs, as well as in practical research by the team of the student group of a modern university.