Drive

Drive is a term used in psychology to describe an instinctual need that has the power of driving the behaviour of an individual. This term was first introduced by psychologist Robert Woodworth in 1918 and has been used in various contexts in the field of psychology and neuroscience.

Definition

A drive is a motivational state caused by a physiological need. It is an instinctual need that motivates the organism to action, typically associated with a physiological state of arousal that urges the organism to fulfill the need in order to reduce the tension. Drives can be categorized into two types: primary drives and secondary drives.

Primary Drives

Primary drives are innate drives (e.g. thirst, hunger, and desire for sex), wherein the motivation to satisfy such needs is often strong.

Secondary Drives

Secondary drives are learned by conditioning (e.g. ambition, desire for money). These are not directly related to biological needs but rather to social and environmental factors.

Drive Theory

The 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.

See Also

• Motivation
• Instinct
• Homeostasis

References

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