Drive reduction theory proposes that reducing drives is the primary motivation for behavior. Clark Hull theorized that drives like hunger and thirst create an unpleasant state that organisms are motivated to reduce through behaviors like eating and drinking. Behavior is reinforced when it successfully reduces drives, increasing the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. However, the theory does not account for how secondary reinforcers or behaviors not reducing drives can motivate behavior. Dollard and Miller's stimulus-response theory similarly proposes that innate drives create goal-directed behaviors, but that cues guide responses and a habit hierarchy develops through learning. Their theory focuses more on avoidance behaviors compared to approach behaviors. Both theories view learning as central to developing motivated behaviors.

1. DRIVE
THEORIES
SUBMITTED BY
NAJALA P

2. 2 DRIVE
THEORIES

3. DRIVE REDUCTION THEORY
● Proposed by clark Hull- American
psychologist
● Further developed by his collaborator
Kenneth spence
● Neo behaviorist

4. ● According to the theory, the reduction of drives is the
primary force behind motivation.
● Hull based his theory on the concept of homeostasis, the
idea that the body actively works to maintain a certain
state of balance or equilibrium.
● For example, your body regulates its temperature in order
to ensure that you don't become too hot or too cold.

5. ● Based on this idea, Hull suggested that all motivation
arises as a result of these biological needs.
● In his theory, Hull used the term drive to refer to the
state of tension or arousal caused by biological or
physiological needs.

6. ● Thirst, hunger, and the need for warmth are all examples
of drives. A drive creates an unpleasant state, a tension
that needs to be reduced.
● In order to reduce this state of tension, humans and
animals seek out ways to fulfill these biological needs.
We get a drink when we are thirsty. We eat when we are
hungry. We turn up the thermostat when we are cold.

8. CONDITIONING AND
REINFORCEMENT
● Hull is considered a neo-behaviorist thinker, but like the
other major behaviorists, he believed that human
behavior could be explained by conditioning and
reinforcement. The reduction of the drive acts as a
reinforcement for that behavior
● This reinforcement increases the likelihood that the
same behavior will occur again in the future when the
same need arises

9. ● In a stimulus-response (S-R) relationship, when the
stimulus and response are followed by a reduction in
the need, it increases the likelihood that the same
stimulus will elicit the same response again in the
future.
● "When survival is in jeopardy, the organism is in a
state of need (when the biological requirements for
survival are not being met) so the organism behaves in
a fashion to reduce that need," Hull explained.

10. ● One of the biggest problems with Hull's drive
reduction theory is that it does not account for how
secondary reinforcers reduce drives.
● Unlike primary drives such as hunger and thirst,
secondary reinforcers do nothing to directly reduce
physiological and biological needs. Take money, for
example. While money does allow you to purchase
primary reinforcers, it does nothing in and of itself to
reduce drives.
● Another major criticism of the drive reduction theory
of learning is that it does not explain why people
engage in behaviors that do not reduce drives.

11. Contemporary criticism
his theory lacks generalizability.
One of the biggest problems with Hull's drive reduction
theory is that it does not account for how secondary
reinforcers reduce drives.
Another major criticism of the drive reduction theory of
learning is that it does not explain why people engage in
behaviors that do not reduce drives.

12. DOLLARD AND MILLER STIMULUS
RESPONSE THEORY
● This theory was proposed by
John Dollard and Neal Miller
● Generally, Dollard and Miller
proposed that the drive to avoid a
negative goal is stronger than the
drive to approach a positive one.
Therefore, avoidance wins out
for the most part

13. BASICS OF THEORY
• Drive – An innate internal state, which leads to goal directed behavior
aimed at reducing the drive.
• Cue – Any stimulus in the environment that either triggers a drive, or
determines the nature and direction of the goal-directed behavior.
• Response – The behavior of the individual, who is guided by the cue,
towards reducing the drive by attaining a goal, in the appropriate
direction.
• Reward – The reinforcement attained after reaching the goal – drive

14. • According to these theorists , we are born with a set of innate
needs – for food, water, oxygen, and warmth, to name but a few.
We would have died if these needs had not been satisfied during our
early life, yet now we can perform the necessary responses to
obtain them ourselves.
• Obviously, although the needs may be inherited, when the drive
arises we become motivated to respond to them and thus the
response is learned
• HABIT HEIRARCHY
The hierarchy of these secondary drives within the individual gives rise
to a unique set of habits within that individual at a given point of
time.

15. Habits – Likelihood of responding in certain ways
Types of Habits – John Dollard and Neal Miller proposed two
types of drives or habits –
1. Primary Drives/ Habits
2. Secondary (Acquired) Drives/Habits
Habit Hierarchy – According to the theory, there is a learned
hierarchy of likelihood behaviors that a person will produce
particular responses in particular situations.
Through the process of learning, the innate drives (primary habits)
extend to similar situations (secondary habits)

16. • At birth we have a series of organized (often-reflexive) responses we
can make. These can be called our initial response hierarchy.
• Once a drive is aroused, cues guide you. They encourage you to
respond; determining when and where you will respond and even
which response will be made.
• The latest order, the one you are using now, is called the resultant
hierarchy. Drives accompanied by cues guide the organism to
respond in a particular way and place, and can be referred to as the
personality of that organism.

17. • The latest order, the one you are using now, is called
the resultant hierarchy. Drives accompanied by cues guide
the organism to respond in a particular way and place, and
can be referred to as the personality of that organism.
CONFLICT IN HEIRARCHY NEEDS
• Approach – Avoidance Conflict
• Approach – Approach Conflict
• Avoidance – Avoidance Conflict

18. THANK YOU