drive

A psychological force thought to energize behaviour. Some early psychologists postulated that specific drives (e.g. hunger drive, sex drive, and thirst drive) were responsible for energizing each type of behaviour. They distinguished between primary, innate drives associated with satisfying biological needs (hunger), and secondary drives associated with satisfying social needs (e.g. status). Other early psychologists claimed that a single general drive was responsible for energizing all behaviour.

The term drive is still used descriptively to convey the idea of a psychological force, but it is not generally used by modern psychologists because of confusion with the scientific concepts of force and energy. See also motivation.

1. A physiological condition involving sensitivity to certain types of stimulation that activates behaviour. Drives are distinguished from motives in being initially indiscriminate and without any appropriate direction. Drives may be grouped into two main categories: primary, innate drives which include hunger, pain, thirst, and sex; and secondary or acquired drives including socially learned rewards not directly dependent on biological needs, and other rewards including verbal and monetary reinforcements.

2. In sport psychology, a term often equated with arousal.