Motivation – Drive and Incentive Theories

What motivates us? In this video, we discuss how human motivation works from a biological perspective. We'll talk about our wants, needs, drives, and how it all works together to motivate us.

Motivation: Drives—that is, wants and needs—that push us toward a specific direction.

Drive Reduction Theory: Our drives (e.g., hunger, thirst, sexual frustration) motivate us to minimize negative feelings associated with these drives; some drives push us to approach whereas others push us to avoid.

Incentive Theories: Theories that propose we are often motivated by positive goals (e.g., pleasure, pride, or applause) rather than only by negative goals (e.g., satisfying unpleasant drives).

Intrinsic Motivation: A desire motivated by internal goals (e.g., interest, curiosity, pride).

Extrinsic Motivation: A desire motivated by external goals (e.g., grades, praise, money).

Primary Needs: Biological needs such as hunger and thirst.

Secondary Needs: Psychological needs such as the need for achievement.