Types of Motives

Types of Motives
Motives may be divided into two types: biological and psychosocial motives.
Biological Motives
The first attempts to understand the cause of motivation was analyses of biological motives.
Biological drives are rooted in the physiological state of the body, and the needs of the body
such as hunger, thirst, sexual needs, etc. which influence the behaviour of the individual.
Biological drives stem from the body’s natural tendency to achieve homeostasis.
Homeostasis refers to the process of the body working to maintain a state of balanced
equilibrium in which it can function properly. When this balance is disturbed by the lack of,
or excess, of a substance, there is a tension, or a drive experienced by the individual, which
prompts a change in their behaviour, in order to restore equilibrium.
Hunger
Food provides nutrition, which is essential for the body to function, and it is something that is
vital to survival. When an individual has not eaten, their blood glucose levels drop, and there
is a decrease in the protein and fat levels in the body, creating a physiological need. Nerve
impulses are sent to the brain, which, in turn, creates a drive, inducing the feeling of hunger.
Physiological indicators of this need are hunger pangs, and salivation.
The biological drive of hunger motivates the individual to find a food source, and eat, thereby
alleviating the tension. Here, the physiological need is food, the drive is the feeling of hunger,
and the behaviour that reduces the drive is eating.
It must also be noted that in some cases, external stimuli can affect human behaviour and
result in the urge to eat.
Thirst
Water and fluids are absolutely essential for the proper functioning of the body, as water
makes up about two-thirds of the human body. Water is needed for survival. A lack of water
in cells, and a reduction in blood volume sends nerve impulses to the brain, inducing the
drive of thirst. This prompts an individual to find a water source, and quench their thirst.
Physiological indicators of this need include dryness of the mouth, lips and throat,
discomfort, and in some cases, headaches.
Here, the physiological need is water, the drive is thirst, and the behaviour that reduces the
drive is drinking fluids.
Sexual Motives
Sexual Motivation is different from most other biological needs like hunger, thirst and sleep,
as sex is not needed for the survival of the individual. However, it is essential for the survival
of the species as a whole. Sexual motivation does not aim to achieve homeostasis, and this
drive only develops with age, when the age of sexual maturity is reached.
Sexual urges are determined by the release of sex hormones into the bloodstream released
from the gonads; ovaries in females, and testes in males. Certain endocrine responses of the
adrenal and pituitary glands may also have an effect on such urges.
Furthermore, there is the element of external stimuli that factors into sexual motivation, and
the nature of arousing stimuli depends on various cultural factors. In humans, sensory stimuli
is a more prominent trigger of sexual drives than endocrinal activity.
Here, the physiological need is sexual satisfaction, the drive is sexual urges, and the
behaviour that reduces the drive is intercourse.
Psychosocial Motives
Psychosocial motives are those drives that are not influenced by the physiological state of an
individual. They are motivations related to society, intrapersonal and interpersonal relations,
and social roles, among others. These motives are often learned and conditioned, and they
influence the psychological well-being of an individual, influencing their behaviour. These
motives are dependent on the community around the individual, and are acquired and
developed from their interactions with the environment around them.
Need for Affiliation

Humans are inherently social beings, and require healthy, comforting, and trusting
relationships for our development. Consequently, there is a need to seek out, initiate, and
maintain good social relationships with other individuals. This motive is known as the need
for affiliation. Essentially, it is the need for social contact.
Social bonds are integral for not only the survival, but also the wellbeing of individuals.
People tend to seek out healthy relationships and comfort during times of sadness and
psychological stress, or even when they feel positive emotions.
Gregariousness
When there is a high motive related to affiliation, individuals will actively try to befriend
others, and expand or develop their interpersonal relationships. This tendency to be sociable
and the ability to easily form associations with others is the quality of gregariousness.
In relation to the affiliation motive, when an individual wants to be a part of a social group,
they may put in extra effort to conform to the norms of that community.
Need for Achievement
Achievement motivation refers to the drive to attain a particular goal, the need to meet
standards of excellence, to challenge one’s skills, and to outperform others. This drive
develops during the formative years of social development – i.e., childhood, and interactions
with primary caregivers, teachers, and peers can influence this motive. People who have a
high need for achievement tend to work hard in order to accomplish goals, as well as to
improve performance.
People high in achievement motivation have a tendency to take up work that is not too easy,
but not too difficult. They prefer to challenge themselves to improve their performance, but
more often than not, they do not take up tasks where success is not guaranteed. They can also
be competitive.
They are also eager to receive feedback on their performance, and validation influences their
goals, their work, and consequently, their behaviour.
Need for Power

The power motive is the need to have an impact upon the behaviour of others. The motive is
based on the feeling of being in a position of control – over themselves, and others. There are
four methods in which power motivation is expressed:
i) People indulge in behaviours to gain feelings of power and strength from sources outside
themselves – this could be by consuming media that caters to this need.
ii) People indulge in behaviours to gain feelings of power and strength from internal sources,
and intrapersonal contemplation – this could be through building up one’s confidence by
mastering personal challenges, and taking care of themselves.
iii) People indulge in individual behaviour that impacts others – an individual may incite
conflict, argue, or compete with another in order to feel a sense of power.
iv) People indulge in behaviour that impacts others as a member of a cause, organization, or
social group – religious propaganda, or the authority of a corporate body are examples of
power motivation as a group.
Curiosity and Exploration Motive

The tendency to explore the unknown, gain novel experiences and gain knowledge is known
as curiosity. This motive is the indulging in certain behaviours for the sake of gaining
newfound knowledge. The curiosity motive develops from a very young age, where small
children express interest in knowing more about their environment.
There is satisfaction gained from the ability to explore. Comfortable environments and
familiar experiences and routines can get repetitive, and monotonous. Novel experiences urge
individuals to learn more, and also stimulates the individual.
Aggression and Frustration
Frustration may be defined as the blocking of ongoing, goal-directed behaviour. Feelings of
frustration may result in aggression and anger, and in some cases, frustration may be a result
of aggression, as well. These urges motivate individuals to partake in rash behaviour, and
violence. A decrease in logical reasoning may be observed, as well as a negative effect on the
emotional state.
Aggression is largely motivated by external factors, and aggressive behaviour as a trait, may
even develop in the formative years of childhood. Exposure to aggression and violence and
media, or aggression in role-model figures can influence the behaviour of individuals, as
shown in Bandura’s bobo-doll experiment.
Inheritance does not play a role in aggressive tendencies, and they are attributed to
environmental factors. Certain studies explore the role of hormonal release in the increase of
aggressive motivation, as well.

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Types of Motives

Need for Affiliation

Need for Power

Curiosity and Exploration Motive

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