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An introduction to the psychological forces that drive human behavior and the difference between biological and social motives.
Have you ever wondered why you can spend hours playing a video game without getting tired, but five minutes of chores feels like an eternity?
Motivation is the 'engine' of human behavior. In psychology, it is defined as the internal state that activates, directs, and maintains behavior toward a goal. It isn't just about 'willpower'; it is a complex mix of your body's needs and your mind's desires. Without motivation, we would be static. It acts as a bridge between a stimulus (like feeling cold) and an action (like putting on a jacket). Psychologists look at the 'why' behind our actions to understand what 'sparks' us into motion.
Quick Check
In your own words, what are the three things motivation does to behavior?
Answer
Motivation activates (starts), directs (guides), and maintains (keeps going) behavior.
Biological drives are unlearned motives that arise from our physical needs. Your body constantly strives for homeostasis, which is a state of internal balance. When you lack something essential—like food, water, or sleep—your body creates a 'drive' (a state of tension) that pushes you to act. For example, if your blood sugar drops, you feel the drive of hunger, which motivates you to find a snack. These are universal; every human on Earth shares these same basic drives because they are required for survival.
1. You go for a long run on a hot day. 2. Your body loses water through sweat, breaking homeostasis. 3. Your brain detects low water levels and creates the 'thirst drive.' 4. You are motivated to find a water fountain to return your body to balance.
Quick Check
What is the psychological term for the body's internal state of balance?
Answer
Homeostasis
Unlike biological drives, social motives are learned through experience and interaction with others. You aren't born wanting a trophy or 1,000 followers; you learn to value these things. Key social motives include the need for achievement (the desire to excel), the need for affiliation (the desire to belong to a group), and the need for power. These motives explain why you might practice an instrument for hours or join a club even when your physical needs (like hunger) are already met.
1. A student decides to enter a science fair. 2. They aren't doing it for food or sleep (biological). 3. They are driven by the need for achievement (winning) and affiliation (working with a partner). 4. This social motive keeps them working late into the night, even when they feel the biological drive to sleep.
Every day, your biological and social motives compete. This is called motivational conflict. Your brain acts as a judge, weighing the 'cost' of an action against the 'reward.' If you are invited to a party (social motive) but have a massive headache (biological drive), your brain must decide which motive is stronger at that moment. Understanding this helps us see that our 'choices' are often the result of which internal force is winning the tug-of-war.
1. An athlete is fasting for a religious holiday (a powerful social/cultural motive). 2. During practice, their body signals intense hunger (a biological drive). 3. The brain experiences a conflict: . 4. The athlete uses 'top-down' mental control to prioritize the social motive over the physical urge to eat.
Which of the following is an example of a biological drive?
Social motives are different from biological drives because social motives are:
Homeostasis refers to the body's tendency to maintain a steady internal state.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain to a friend the difference between 'homeostasis' and 'social motives' using the example of a student-athlete.
Practice Activity
Keep a 'Motive Log' for two hours today. Every time you do something (check your phone, eat a snack, do homework), write down if the motive was biological or social.