WHAT ARE THE DRIVES IN MENTAL HEALTH?

1-The Definition of Drive

A drive was at first defined as a state of arousal that results from a biological need. The drive motivates the individual to fulfil that need.

Example:A need refers to a state of biological or tissue deprivation, such as hunger, causing an internal imbalance. A drive on the other hand refers to the psychological consequences of the need (eg. the drive to seek food).

A drive is a state of arousal which is aimed at restoring a physiological imbalance.

Whilst we can objectively observe a need, a drive is not accessible to direct observation; we infer that it exists by watching an individual’s ‘response behaviour’ to a need.

For example, if we see someone looking for water, we can assume that they are thirsty.

Nevertheless, the concept of need and drive was still based in a biological approach to behaviour rather than a psychological approach…