There are different approaches to explain motivation. The differences between these theories usually lie on how they underline biological and/or environmental factors to explain the process of motivation.
Instinct Theory of Motivation
Instinct is defined as natural behavioral pattern of individuals in response to certain kind of stimulus. Innate fears toward snakes for an example. It’s the inherent tendencies (by birth) that are portrait by an organism (both human and animals) which are unlearned patterns of behavior. It’s genetic program that is developed biologically. Some examples of instinct are attachment, fear, disgust, shame, parental love and others. The tendency of shaking our body when we feel cold or wet is instinct behaviors, it biological in nature. It’s not learned but inherent.
According to him William Mcdougall, instinct are unlearned, uniform in expression, universal in species and composed of perception, behavior and emotion. He has also identified 18 different types of instinct which are universal in nature.
Sigmund Freud suggested that human behavior was driven by two key forces Life instincts (eros) and Death instincts (thanatos). Life instincts are positive for our survival (eating/sleeping/sex) while as death are negative and doesn’t care about survival (aggression/fights).
Whereas another psychologist William James believed that our instincts is to survive.
Instinct theory suggests that instincts drive all our behaviors and are universal in nature for example maternal love towards children or fears of wild animals or shameful behavior. But instincts may not be universal all mothers may not show maternal love towards children, people may not fear the wild animals while watching TV or all individual may not feel guilt about their shameful behavior. This theory also attempts to explain all the human behavior to instinct, for instance someone have aggressive nature of behavior, and this theory explains he/she is aggressive because he/she have aggressive instinct.
Drive-Reduction theory
Drive-reduction theory was developed by Clark Hull in 1943 and its explanation is based upon the biological factors. This theory is based on the concept of “homeostasis” which creates physiological needs.
Homeostasis is a state of internal physiological equilibrium that the body strives to maintain. For example, when we feel cold our body shivers and generates warmth and when we feel hot we sweet to cool our body automatically.
The two operative terms that need to be understood is ‘drive’ and ‘reduction.’ When hungry drive emerges (it’s a state of unpleasant state of tension which is lack of homeostasis), we act or behave in such a way that we aim to reduce such tension. We then look a way to reduce the tension or satisfy the need of food. For instance, we will seek for food if we are hungry. Thus, we are motivated to reduce our drive.
Despite the glory during 1940s to 1950s drive-reductions theory is heavily criticized in today fields of psychology for various reasons. First this theory doesn’t amply in secondary motives of power, affiliation and power it has majorly focus on primary motives. Second this theory has not attempt to explain why people engage in behaviors that are not meant to reduce drives, such as a person eating even if he is not hungry, like fasting?
ANUSH HERE AND THERE 