Drive Reduction Theory

Another motivation theory which the candidates emphasized during this debate was the drive-reduction theory. According to this theory, a need which isn’t being fulfilled by an individual will then culminate in a drive; motivation to regain homeostasis will be the outcome of the arousal stemming from this initial drive. For example, every individual needs their viewpoints to be heard; if this does not occur, stress can result. An organism cannot survive in extended periods of stress, or any state of extended emotion for that matter. During this debate, both candidates interrupted each other. A drive was thus created to continue their respective thoughts and reduce stress, thus creating arousal to speak over the interrupter; the motivation is …show more content…
Motivation is any component of an individual’s life which makes him want to work harder to achieve a goal; this stimulation can either be of an internal drive, or an external one. There are many sub-theories of motivation, including Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which entails fulfillment of prerequisite bodily requirements before moving on to more complex, psychological needs. Both Clinton and Trump are on the self-actualization stages of this need hierarchy, where achieving the presidency is a goal for both. Drive-reduction theory occurs when a need which isn’t being fulfilled by an individual then culminates in a drive; motivation to regain homeostasis will be the outcome of the arousal stemming from this initial drive. Both candidates grew irritated when interrupted by the other, and a drive to continue their thought processes built arousal to remedy the situation by reprimanding the other. The motivation for correcting each other came with the possibility of losing this last debate, and therefore losing votes for the presidency. Under the arousal theory and Yerkes-Dodson law, both Clinton and Trump needed to function under their respective optimal levels of arousal in order to be successful in this debate. These arousal levels differed between the two candidates, however. Stimulus motives were also utilized by both to increase arousal, and therefore, productivity in the debate. Social motives can lead to achievement, in that humans respond to possible future external outcomes and their ingroups in order to guide their behavior. This determines how much effort the individual will put in to achieve his/her goals. Both presidential candidates have social motives pushing them to continue the race for presidency. Electing a president is one of the greatest abilities which we have as American citizens. In deciding who to elect for president, one must look at