Drive Theory

"Drive theory focuses on biological needs that produce unpleasant states of arousal. The arousal this tension (unpleasant state) causes motivates us to reduce it. Some researchers feel this need to reduce arousal is a basic mechanism that governs much of our behavior." ^[1]

• Primary drives - related to basic survival. ^[2]
•  Secondary drives - related to social and identity factors that aren't as important for survival. ^[3]

Tension

-The unpleasant state that exists when a person's consumption needs aren't met. ^[4]

• When a person is in an unpleasant state he may be grumpy because he is hungry, or angry that he failed a test. ^[5]
•  This "unpleasant" state initiates goal-oriented behavior. ^[6]
• This behavior tries to end the unpleasant state and get back to a balanced state. ^[7]
• This balanced state is called homeostasis. ^[8]

   Homeostasis 

-A state of psychological equilibrium obtained when tension or a drive has been reduced or eliminated. ^[9]

Reducing the drive

 -If a behavior reduces the drive (i.e. the unpleasant state,) a person will probably repeat that behavior. ^[10] 

•  If eating a certain type of food reduces the drive, a person will probably consume that type of food more often. ^[11]
• A person would be less likely to consume a certain type of food if the behavior caused them a certain amount of discomfort such as an upset stomach. ^[12] 

 There is an opposite side to drive theory

-Sometimes, people do things to increase their drive state instead of decreasing it. ^[13]

• This is known as delaying gratification. ^[14]
•  An example is not having an afternoon snack when you're hungry because you know you're going out to dinner later that night. ^[15]