The motivational theories behind five theoretical approaches in occupational therapy that claim to be generic are explained. With the exception of the occupational behavior approach, the motivational perspectives are only implied features of the following other occupational therapy approaches discussed: object relations analysis, action consequence approach, recapitulation of ontogenesis, and developmental facilitation. These motivational explanations are developed and then applied to a case example. Finally, the occupational therapy approaches are analyzed in terms of the viability of their motivational perspectives to determine their adequacy as generic approaches for the profession.