Motivation - Page 1

Why? One of the most popular and intriguing questions... why did he or she do it? When investigating a crime, one of the first things crime inspectors establish are the motives and who would have a motive or reason to commit the crime. Possession of a motive can make you a principal suspect in no time. Without contrary evidence or an alibi, you will become the prime suspect. That is the reason that a motive is one of the first questions asked in search of a perpetrator.

There is something that makes us do what we do, and make the choices we make. It is our own personal motivation, and it plays a major role in understanding people. That is why psychologists are very interested in analyzing it. Motivation is defined as the factors that direct and energize behavior (Feldman, 1997, p.292). Very different theories have been elaborated explaining how this complex process works.

Instinct Approaches

Many scientists believe that human beings are born with patterns of behavior that are biologically determined, rather than learned. These 'preprogrammed behaviors' are our instincts. Psychologists have tried to specify which,  and how many instincts there are, but have not really agreed.  Opinions range from 18 instincts to 5,759.  (Bernard, 1924; Feldman, 1997, p.293, 294)  Instinct approaches are not generally pursued as a viable theory, largely because they do not  explain the reasons certain behavioral patterns develop.  Proponents of this approach have identified and described a wide variety of instincts, but did have successfully explained the logic that coincides with the behavior. (Feldman, 1997, p.194).

Drive Reduction Approaches

The drive reduction approach has a hard time explaining the motivation behind dare-devil stunts, like cliff climbing. (Source: Picture-Gallery.com)

Supporters of this theory believe that when a need requires satisfaction, it produces drives (tensions that energize behavior in order to satisfy a need). Thirst and hunger are, for instance, drives for satisfying the needs of eating and drinking, respectively. (Feldman, 1997, p.294). Drives have been generally established as  primary and secondary. Primary needs or drives satisfy biological needs and must be fulfilled in order to survive. All humans do not have secondary drives as they satisfy needs that are not crucial to a person's life.  The drive toward improving or maintaining personal appearance is a good example of this.  This drive also might be manifested in the constant purchase of stylish clothing, or spending excessive time at the beauty parlor.

Homeostasis is the motivational phenomenon for primary drives that preserves our internal equilibrium. This is true, for example, for hunger or thirst. (Feldman, 1997, p.294).  Drive reduction theory does a very good job at explaining how primary functions (and some secondary) are motivated. Some people affirm that it cannot explain all motivations, since some behaviors do not satisfy a need nor do they reduce a drive. An example are those behaviors caused by curiosity and no other apparent reason.  Another example is activities that are dangerous and do not offer any apparent reward.  Bungee jumping, sky-diving,  and other high-risk sports are included in this group of drives that defy explanation (Feldman, 1997, p.295).