Understand Human Motivations With An Introductory Psychology Course

An introduction to psychology courses can be extremely appealing to college students. A lot people have an interest in understanding human emotions and motivations for various behaviors and taking a course such as intro to psychology can lead individuals to the answers they have been looking for and provide them with tools that can be used throughout a lifetime.

One of the more relevant things individuals desire to understand by taking psychology courses is why people do what they do. Several theories have been postulated to answer this question and there is still much debate behind which is most appropriate. Students will find that psychology is a science not heavily rooted in absolutes because much of its study is interpretive and assumptive. Following will be a short discussion of the theories that exist today.

Instinct theory is one based upon the genetic make-up of the creature. It states that all beings are born with innate knowledge about how to survive. The premise for this motivation theory is that survival dictates all that we do in life and these survival instincts are ingrained in our biology.

Drive theory believes that when physiological needs are not met, a tension develops that prompts individuals to seek out equilibrium by satisfying that need. An example of this would be the feeling of hunger; this is the tension that motivates the action of eating in order to return to a state of satisfaction. Arousal theory, like drive theory, intimates that individuals are motivated to maintain a specific level of what they term "arousal" or comfort level. This theory addresses emotional and intellectual needs, as well as physical needs, more accurately.

The fourth theory discussed in psychology is one espoused by the famous Sigmund Freud. The psychoanalytic theory maintains that humans have only two drives, Eros (Life) and Thanatos (Death) that motivate them to do one thing or another. How does that work out? Well, Freud believed that every thought, emotion and action we participate in, is either to prevent death or ensure life, which is essentially survival and, of course, (keeping with Freudian thought), these drives are buried within our subconscious mind.

The last and probably most widely accepted theory is the humanistic theory of motivation based upon Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This theory states that humans strive to achieve self-actualization, which is described as a pyramid that one must build upon in order to achieve their fullest potential.

It begins with satisfying one's basic physiological needs - for example, food and sleep - followed by a desire for security. Once those needs have been met, one can then focus on emotional and intellectual needs, such as the need to belong, followed by the desire for self-esteem/worth. Once all of these factors have been met, one can finally pursue self-actualization, which is the pinnacle of self motivation.