Another quality of normative motivation is the influence of social pressure. Such pressure is a key element among societies or groups. One example is the practice by demobilized soldiers to travel to the Far East or South America. The pressure on these youngsters is so great that those who do not embark on such a journey are regarded as odd. Still such travel reflects a powerful norm.
Normative motivation contains the element of fashion.
This could last for a short or even protracted period of time, after which it might receive a boost by an existential or ideological need. Or, the practice might disappear and be replaced by a new fad. The type of motivation fulfills the strong psychological need for self-actualization. The renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow places this motivation at the pinnacle of human needs, equivalent to other basic requirements. Self-realization is the need of the individual, unconnected to the society or group.