Drive-Reduction

Drive-reduction theory states that when a physiological needs arises, so does a psychological drive to reduce the need.

fig. 1

Drive-Reduction Theory

If we were to get too hot (need to be cool), we would seek shade (the drive). Heading toward the shade is a drive-reducing behavior.

KEY POINTS

The purpose of drive reduction is to conserve internal stability (homeostasis). An example is how our body's temperature is regulated so that we maintain a certain temperature.
In addition to the psychological drive, we are also moved by incentives -- things which we desire to move toward or away from.
We are especially driven when needs and incentives occur simultaneously. A starving person feels driven to eat at the smell of baking bread, and the bread itself becomes the incentive.
Drive-Reduction Theory works well for simple motivations, like food or sleep, but does not work well for more complex motives, such as why you would go to school.

TERMS

homeostasis
The ability of a system or living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a stable equilibrium; such as the ability of warm-blooded animals to maintain a constant temperature.
Drive-Reduction Theory
The principle that organisms are born with certain physiological needs and that a negative state of tension is created when these needs are not satisfied, but when a need is satisfied, drive is reduced and the organism returns to a state of homeostasis and relaxation.
incentive
Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages; an anticipated reward or aversive event available in the environment.
drive
A motivation, desire or interest to behave or act in a certain manner, often to meet a need.

The term, drive-reduction theory, refers to a diverse set of motivational theories in psychology. Drive theory is based on the principle that organisms are born with certain physiological needs and that a negative state of tension is created when these needs are not satisfied. When a need is satisfied, drive is reduced and the organism returns to a state of homeostasis and relaxation. According to the theory, drive tends to increase over time and operates on a feedback control system, much like a thermostat. Theorists such as Clark Hull and Kenneth Spence suggest that drive reduction is a major cause of learning and behavior. Primary drives are innate drives (e.g., thirst, hunger and sex), whereas secondary drives are learned by conditioning (e.g., money).

Understand- "physiological need" means something without which you, or the species will die. So it's a pretty short list- food, water, temperature regulation, sleep, air, and sex. Essentially, this theory says that all human behavior connects to getting one of those needs met.

A reward, tangible or intangible, is presented after the occurrence of an action (i.e., behavior) with the intent to cause the behavior to occur again. This is done by associating positive meaning to the behavior. Studies show that if the person receives the reward immediately, the effect would be greater. Conversely, the effect decreases as duration lengthens. Repetitive action-reward combination can cause the action to become a habit. Motivation comes from two sources — oneself and other people. These two sources are called intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation, respectively. Reinforcers and reinforcement principles of behavior differ from the hypothetical construct of reward. A reinforcer is any stimulus change following a response that increases the future frequency or magnitude of that response. Positive reinforcement is demonstrated by an increase in the future frequency or magnitude of a response which in the past has been followed contingently by a reinforcing stimulus. Negative reinforcement involves stimulus change consisting of the removal of an aversive stimulus following a response. Positive reinforcement involves a stimulus change consisting of the presentation or magnification of an appetitive stimulus following a response. From this perspective, motivation is mediated by environmental events, and the concept of distinguishing between intrinsic and extrinsic forces is irrelevant.

Applying proper motivational techniques can be much harder than it seems. Steven Kerr notes that ,when creating a reward system, it can be easy to reward A, while hoping for B, and in the process reap harmful effects that can jeopardize your goals. Incentive theory in psychology treats motivation and behavior of the individual as they are influenced by beliefs, such as engaging in activities that are expected to be profitable. Incentive theory is promoted by behavioral psychologists, such as B.F. Skinner, and literalized by behaviorists, especially by Skinner in his philosophy of radical behaviorism, to mean that a person's actions always have social ramifications; and, if actions are positively received, people are more likely to act in this manner, or if negatively received, people are less likely to act in this manner. Incentive theorists tend to distinguish between wanting and liking, where liking is a passive function evaluating a stimulus, but wanting adds an active process "attracting" the person towards the stimulus.

Incentive theory can be distinguished from other theories of motivation, such as drive theory, in the direction of the motivation. In incentive theory, stimuli "attract," to use the term above, a person toward them. In terms of behaviorism, incentive theory involves positive reinforcement: The stimulus has been conditioned to make the person happier. For instance, a person knows that eating food, drinking water, or gaining social capital will make them happier, as opposed to the drive theory, which involves negative reinforcement: A stimulus has been associated with the removal of the punishment — the lack of homeostasis in the body. For example, a person has come to know that if he or she eats when hungry, it will eliminate that negative feeling of hunger, or if they drink when thirsty, it will eliminate that negative feeling of thirst.

Drive Reduction Theory works well for simple matters- you get hungry, you seek food. However, most human behavior is not so simple. Why do we go to college, or attend class on a particular day, or associate with one person over another? At this point, Drive Reduction breaks down. It is possible to explain why someone would attend college. For example, they might go to college to get a better job, which gets them a better chance of getting these needs met. But, the payoff for most of these is years away, and it's not parsimonius to suggest that a desire for food, sex, etc could be put on hold for years. It makes more sense to think that these behaviors are motivated cognitively instead. Proposing that the person BELIEVES that college will get them things they want is much simpler. Thus the Cognitive Theories of Motivation.

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