Counselling Central

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to be highly motivated and successful individuals?  Where does their energy and drive originate? Is it nature or nurture? Motivation is an area of psychology that has received a great deal of attention in recent years, because many of us crave success and drive and the rewards it brings. According to psychologists there are five distinct theories of motivation:

Humanistic Theory

Humanistic Theory is the most well documented theory of motivation.  According to this theory unless obstacles are put in our way, such as safety, hunger or financial problems, we are driven to achieve our potential. For further information on this theory see Maslow

Drive Reduction Theory

We have certain innate biological needs which motivate us to behave in a certain way.  These drives are defined by Hull (1942) as an internal tension which must be reduced.  A good example would be feelings of hunger which motivates us to eat. In order for us to keep a sense of internal calmness we are motivated to reduce these drives.

Instinct Theory

Instinct theory is another example of a biological drive.  Just as we are driven to eat, drink, sleep and reproduce our biological programming motivates us in other ways to survive. For example we are born with the ability to cry, which notifies our parents when something is wrong, and muscular reflexes which protect us from danger and promote survival.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud believed that humans have two basic drives: Eros and Thanatos. Eros is the life drive and Thanatos the death drive. According to Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory, everything we do, think and experience emotionally has the goal of helping us to survive or prevent our demise. Freud believed that these drives, unlike in Instinct Theory, are buried in our unconscious mind. From the cars we chose to the food we eat, everything we do can be traced back to one of these two motivators.

Arousal Theory

In the same way that Drive Reduction Theory describes our attempts to remain calm, Arousal Theory describes our desire to maintain certain levels of arousal in order to feel comfortable. Arousal Theory explains why we might drive cars around a race track, climb a mountain, or watch a sad film. It also states that we have an innate biological need to keep a balanced amount of stimulation in our lives.