drive-reduction theory

n. Drive-reduction theory, also known as drive theory, is a perspective on human motivation as the process by which we are moved to action and guided in our actions. According to drive-reduction theory, we are motivated to behave in ways that help to fulfill our needs. In a very basic sense, motivation results from our physiological needs. Needs are the most basic requirements for human survival. Our biological needs are driven in part by homeostasis, our natural tendency to seek inner balance. When we are out of balance, a condition psychologists refer to as being in a state of need, we are motivated to do something to restore balance. This motivation to restore balance (homeostasis) is referred to as a drive. Drives are internal states of arousal that lead us to engage in need-reduction behaviors. Needs are considered to be physiological deficits, and drives are psychological desires to satisfy needs and return to a state of balance, or homeostasis.

Drive-reduction theory is more about what motivates us to act, and less about exactly how we act. People may respond in different ways to needs, but we generally repeat behaviors that have the effect of reducing our needs and restoring us to homeostatic balance.

Thirst is a drive that arises when the body requires water. When the fluid inside or outside the cells in the body is low, homeostasis is disrupted and we become thirsty. Thirst is the psychological manifestation of our body's need for water, which is triggered by the hypothalamus. What do we do when we are thirsty? We drink fluid, and the fluids that we drink are generally composed mostly of water. At some point, our body tells us that we are all set; that we no longer require water. At that point, we have returned to a state of homeostasis and our thirst ends. So, we have traveled from a state of homeostatic balance, to a state of physiological need for water, which results in a psychological drive (called thirst) to satisfy that need for water, which leads to the need-reducing behavior of drinking fluid, which addresses the need and restores us to homeostasis.

- MWP