A theory of motivation developed by Clark L.

Hull, the Drive-Reduction Theory

focuses on how motivation originates from biological needs or drives. In this
theory, Hull proposed a person’s behaviour is an external display of his desire
to satisfy his physical needs. Needs are things that are important for survival
like water food sleep etc.
What is a drive?
A “drive” is a state of arousal or tension triggered by a person’s physiological
or biological needs. These needs include hunger, thirst, need for warmth, etc.
According to this theory imbalance in homeostasis create physiological needs.
These needs result in psychological drive states that encourages a behavior to
meet the need and, ultimately, bring the system back to homeostasis. So
basically When a physiological need is not satisfied, a negative state of tension
is created; when the need is satisfied, the drive to satisfy that need is reduced
and the organism returns to homeostasis.
Hull explained that an individual is in a state of need when his survival is
threatened. When a person’s drive emerges, he will be in an unpleasant state
of tension To reduce the tension, he will begin seeking out ways to satisfy his
biological needs. For instance, you will look for water to drink if you are thirsty.
You will seek for food if you are hungry.
The whole theory revolves around the concept of hoemostasis
Example if it’s been a while since we ate anything, our blood sugar levels will
drop below normal which will lead to the imbalance of homeostasis Low blood
sugar creates a physiological need and a drive state (i.e., hunger) that will
directly lead to a behavior to seek out and consume food. Eating will eliminate
the hunger, and, ultimately, our blood sugar levels will return to normal. the
homeostasis will return to normal
According to the theory, any behaviour that reduces the drives will be
repeated by humans and animals.
PROS this theory helps us to understand why a person behave the way it
behaves when a drive arises and how that behavior is important for the
survival of an individual. Drive theory says that when people fulfil their
biological and physiological needs, they learn how to satisfy them again in
the future.
CONS It only focuses on primary needs and not on secondary needs like social
need , need of safety, need of self esteem etc
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. For
example, people often eat when they’re not hungry or drink when they’re not
thirsty.
In some cases, people actually participate in activities that increase tension
such as sky-diving or bungee jumping. Why would people seek out activities
that do nothing to fulfill biological needs and that actually place them in
considerable danger? Drive-reduction theory cannot account for such
behaviors.

In the early 1940s, Abraham Maslow created his theory of needs Later, David
McClelland built on this work in his 1961 book, "The Achieving Society." Gave
this theory McClelland’s theory of needs it is a theory that explains the
process of motivation by breaking down what and how needs are and how
they have to be approached.  This theory was developed in the 1960s and
McClelland points out that regardless of our age, sex, race, or culture, all of us
possess all these needs among which one of these is dominant and are driven
by it. This theory is also known as the Acquired Needs or  Learned Needs
Theory.as McClelland put forth that to fulfill specific needs of an individual
motivators are required which are learned and shaped over time through the
experiences he has had in life.
NEED OF ACHIEVEMENT The need for achievement as the name itself suggests
is the urge to achieve something in what you do. If you are a lawyer it is the
need to win cases and be recognized, if you are a painter it is the need to paint
a famous painting. It is the need that drives a person to work and even struggle
for the objective that he wants to achieve. People who possess high
achievement needs are people who always work to excel by particularly
avoiding low reward low-risk situations and difficult to achieve high-risk
situations. They Like to receive regular feedback on their progress and
achievements. And Often like to work alone.
NEED OF POWER The individuals motivated by the need for power have a
desire to control and influence others. These people are strong leaders and can
be best suited to leading positions. Competition motivates them and they
enjoy winning arguments. Status and recognition is something they aspire for
and do not like being on the losing side. They do not mind playing a zero-sum
game, where, for one person to win, another must lose and collaboration is
not an option. This motivational type is accompanied by needs for personal
prestige, and better personal status.

NEED OF AFFILIATION PEOPLE WITH THIS NEED Wants to belong to the group.
they want to be included and feel belonged they Want to be liked by people,
and will often go along with whatever the rest of the group wants to do. Just to
maintain the relationships because it is the most important thing for them
They Favour collaboration over competition. They Don’t like situations with
high risk or uncertainty .and always try to avoid conflict