Theory Name

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