DRIVE REDUCTION THEORY

Physiological Need(Hunger, Thirst, Sex)

Drive(Organism engages in random activity to satisfy its needs)

Goal-directed behavior(Organism adopts a behavior that reduces the drive)

Satisfaction(Organism’s needs have been satisfied)

A “Need” is a biological or psychological requirement

A “Drive” is an internal condition that orients an individual toward a specific goal

A drive encourages a person to act in goal-directed behaviors to achieve “Homeostasis” – a state of physical or psychological balance.

Homeostasis is a temporary condition. A need will develop over time.

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The Hypothalamus helps direct behavior

With the Lateral Hypothalamus removed a rat will not eat, even when surrounded by food

With the Ventromedial Hypothalamus removed a rat will continue to eat, even when it is not hungry

Drive Reduction Theory Tested

• Have you ever eaten when you weren’t hungry?

• What about a person that excessively works out?

• How do we account for other motivating factors like: achievement, power, and curiosity?

Too much eating?

Too much working out?

Too much tanning?

Environmental Factors that Affect our Hunger

• 1. Availability of food

• 2. Learned preferences and habits

• 3. Stress– Weight gain– Weight loss

Set Point

• The “Set Point” is the weight at which an adult is supposedly set

• When the body falls below this weight, an increase in hunger and a lowered metabolic rate, may act to restore the lost weight

• Eating disorders can cause a person to deviate wildly from their set point.– Anorexia Nervosa– Bulimia Nervosa

BIOLOGICAL

SAFETY

ATTACHMENT

ESTEEM

COGNITIVE

AESTHETIC

SELF-ACTUALIZATION

TRANSCENDENCE

MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS

PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS

SELF-ACTUALIZATION NEEDS

(To feel secure, safe, and out of danger)

(To feel a sense of achievement, competence, and belonging)

(The need to fulfill one’s unique potential)

Maslow’s Hierarchy in “Ratatouille”