Psychological research into motivation across cultures has shown that while core drives such as autonomy, competence, and relatedness appear to be universal, the expression, prioritization, and social framing of motives vary markedly across cultural contexts, shaping both personal wellbeing and societal health; early cross-cultural explorations by McClelland in the 1960s and 1970s hinted at cultural variation in achievement motivation, later elaborated in edited volumes such as Motivation and Culture (Munro, Schumaker & Carr, 1997) which brought together diverse scholars examining how motives are embedded in cultural narratives and social structures. Self-Determination Theory (SDT), formally articulated by Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan from the mid-1980s onward, posits that fulfilling innate psychological needs fosters intrinsic motivation and wellbeing across cultures, but cultural values can influence how these needs are understood and supported. Geert Hofstede’s pioneering Cultural Dimensions Theory (based on data from 1967–1973) offers a macro-level framework showing how cultural values such as individualism-collectivism and uncertainty avoidance shape motivational orientations in social and organizational life, and Shalom H. Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Human Values (developed across the late 20th century) elaborates a cross-culturally validated set of motivationally grounded values that guide behaviour in over 90 societies. Classic work by Gordon Allport and J. Michael Ross (1967) introduced psychological scales distinguishing intrinsic and extrinsic religious motivation, influencing later research on how faith and belief contribute to motivational processes and wellbeing; these distinctions intersect meaningfully with Christian understandings of motive and purpose, where Scripture calls believers to intrinsic devotion (“whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” Colossians 3:23) and to persevere in loving service as an expression of deeper spiritual motivation (cf. 1 Corinthians 13), illustrating that motivation grounded in transcendent purpose can enrich personal flourishing and communal flourishing alike. Studying motivation across cultures thus not only advances psychological science by revealing how cultural frameworks channel human desires and goals but also highlights avenues for enhancing personal wellbeing (through culturally sensitive support of autonomy and relatedness) and societal health (by fostering inclusive environments that respect diverse motivational norms).