According to drive-reduction theory, what motivates individuals?

Drive-reduction theory posits that motivation arises from the need to reduce drives that result from biological or psychological imbalances in the body. When a need creates a state of tension or discomfort—such as hunger, thirst, or any other physiological imbalance—individuals are motivated to take actions that will satisfy those needs. This process helps restore balance, or homeostasis, which is the body's natural state of equilibrium.

For example, when someone feels hungry (a drive), they may seek food (the behavior) to reduce that hunger and, upon eating, achieve a sense of satisfaction and restore the balance in their physiological state. Thus, the core motivation according to drive-reduction theory revolves around the desire to return to a state of homeostasis after a drive has disrupted it.

Consequently, options relating to external rewards, social affiliations, or peer influences do not align with the internal drive and biological needs emphasized in drive-reduction theory. These aspects, while they can certainly play a role in motivation in broader contexts, are not the primary focus of this particular theoretical framework.