Need For Achievement (n Ach)

Need for Achievement (n Ach) is the degree to which someone is motivated to set and reach goals. People with a high n Ach are usually driven to succeed for internal reasons such as personal satisfaction rather than by external pressures.

These individuals work hard to meet their goals and tend to take on tasks that are moderately difficult to accomplish. If they choose a goal that is too easy, the achievement is not very rewarding, and if they chose something that is too difficult, success may not be obtainable. Say someone with a high n Ach is just beginning to set high standards for themselves in fitness. They may aim to run a 5k (3-mile) race, but they would shy away from a longer race until they have become a more experienced runner, so they aren’t setting themselves up for failure.