DRIVE REDUCTION THEORY

A “Need” is a biological or psychological requirement A “Drive” is an internal condition that orients an individual toward a specific goal 1 Physiological Need (Hunger, Thirst, Sex) 2 Drive (Organism engages in random activity to satisfy its needs) 4 Satisfaction (Organism’s needs have been satisfied) 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. 3 Goal-directed behavior (Organism adopts a behavior that reduces the drive)

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 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? 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

MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS SELF-ACTUALIZATION NEEDS TRANSCENDENCE (The need to fulfill one’s unique potential) SELF-ACTUALIZATION AESTHETIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS COGNITIVE ESTEEM (To feel a sense of achievement, competence, and belonging) ATTACHMENT (The need to fulfill one’s unique potential) FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS SAFETY (To feel secure, safe, and out of danger) BIOLOGICAL

Maslow’s Hierarchy in “Ratatouille”