Major Theorist(s)
Time Period Created
Key Theory Concepts
Will
Descarte
17th century
Will “does think, plan and form intentions that precede action” (Reeve, 2009, p. 27).
Instinct
Charles Darwin
1859-1872
Individuals best adapted to their environment can increase their production.
Drive
Woodworth
(first person introduced drive)
1918
“Drive motivated whatever behavior was instrumental to servicing the body’s needs” (Reeve, 2009, p. 29).
Freud’s Drive Theory
Sigmund Freud
1951
“All behavior is motivated and that the purpose of behavior was to serve the satisfaction of needs” (Reeve, 2009, p. 30).
Hull’s Drive Theory
Clark Hull
1943-1952
All energy source composed of current bodily needs, such as food, water, sex, sleep, and etc.
Decline of drive theory
Sheffield & Roby
1950
Learning can occur when there is no equivalent experience of drive decline.
Harlow
1953
Learning can occur when there’s drive reduction and/or drive induction.
Bolles
1997
Drive reduction is not necessary for learning to occur.
Post-Drive Theory Years
Post-Drive Theory Years
Berlyne and Hebb
1967 and 1955
optimal Level of arousal
Olds
1969
pleasure centers in the brain
Miller
1959
1959 approach avoidane conflicts
Murray
1938 universal needs
Miller
1948 conditioned motives
(Reeve, 2009).
Mini-theories
Mini-theories self-actualization Rogers
1959
Mini-theories seek to understand or investigate, the motivational