Biological Motives

Types of Motives

            Motives are mainly two types i.e.

(i)         Biological and

(ii)        Psychological Motives.

            Both the motives are interdependent upon each other. It means both biological and psychological factors can trigger motives. Therefore no motive is absolutely biological or psychosocial per se.

Biological Motives

            The biological motives are also known as physiological motives because they are based upon the physiological systems of body. These are the biological causes [hormones, neurotransmitters, brainstructures etc.] of motivation. These motives are the result of disturbance of homeostasis [the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes].  Biological motives are assumed to be responsible for the behaviour. This approach explains behaviour in terms of needs that led to drive to goal directed behaviour and consequently reducing the drive. The earliest explanation of motivations relied on the concept of instincts. Instincts are the inborn patterns of behaviour that are biologically determined rather than learned for example curiosity, flight, parental care etc.

            Instincts have an impetus which drives the individual to do something to reduce that impetus. The major biological motives are

(i)         Hunger,

(ii)        Thirst, and

(iii)       Sex.

(i)         Hunger

Hunger is physiological need caused by various external and internal factors such as

(a)        Stomach contractions,

(b)        Low concentration of glucose level in blood stream,

(c)        Low level of proteins,

(d)       Low level of fats stored in body,

(e)        Secretion of insulin and glucagon by pancreas,

            (f)        Metabolic functions of liver,

(g)        Time of the day (Convention of eating),

(h)        Sensory appeal (sight, smell and taste) of the food,

(i)         Cultural factors,

(j)         Stress, and

(k)        Gender.

Bodily Function of Hunger

Research indicates that hypothalamus, liver and other body organs along with external signals regulates hunger & satiety systems. The change in the metabolic functions of the liver result in feeling of hunger. The liver sends signal to hypothalamus. The two regions of hypothalamus are involved in hunger are - the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and the ventro-medial hypothalamus (VMH). LH is considered to be the excitatory area. Animals eat when this area is stimulated and stops eating and die of starvation when it is damaged. The VMH is located in the middle of the hypothalamus (hunger-controlling area) inhibits the hunger drive.

(ii)        Thirst

I am thirsty!!! What makes me feel that way? Is it sight of water or mouth watering juice? No, its motivation from my body that triggered thirst. The loss of water from cells and reduction of blood volume is responsible for thirst. When water is lost by bodily fluids, water leaves the interior of the cells. The anterior hypothalamus contains nerve cells called ‘osmoreceptors’, which generate nerve impulses in case of cell dehydration. These nerve impulses act as a signal for thirst and drinking; when thirst is regulated by loss of water from the ‘osmoreceptors’, it is called cellular-dehydration thirst. But what mechanisms stop the drinking of water? Some researchers assume that the mechanism which explains the intake of water is also responsible for stopping the intake of water. Others have pointed out that the role of stimuli resulting from the intake of water in the stomach must have something to do with stopping of drinking water.

(iii)       Sex

It is one of the powerful drive found in animals and human beings. It is different from hunger and thirst (biological motives) in following ways:

(i)         It is not necessary for survival,

(ii)        Homeostasis (the attempt of the organism torestore equilibrium) is not the objectivity of sexual activity;

(iii)       The sex drive develops with age, etc.

The motivation to engage in sexual activity is regulated by internal and external factors.

(i)         Internal - In human beings, the sex drive is closely regulated biologically. Physiologists suggest that intensity of the sexual urge is dependent upon sex hormones. Studies suggests that the sex hormones secreted by gonads, (testes in males and the ovaries in females), adrenal and pituitary glands are responsible for sexual motivation.

(ii)        External - Sexual drive in human beings is primarily stimulated by external stimuli such as erotic images etc. and its expression depends upon cultural learning.

Apart from these three motives few more are described below.

(i)         Need of intake of oxygen,

(ii)        Need of sleep,

(iii)       Need to maintain optimal body temperature,

(iv)       Need for seeking pleasure and avoidance of pain,

(v)        Need for elimination of waste from the body (excretory motive) etc.

References:

1.         NCERT,  (2013). XI Psychology Text book.

2.         Ciccarelli, S. K. & Meyer, G. E. (2016). Psychology. Noida: Pearson India.

3.         Baron, R. (1993). Psychology.

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