8.3.1. Biological Motives

The biological or physiological approach to explain motivation is the earliest attempt to understand causes of behaviour. Most of the theories, which developed later, carry traces of the influence of the biological approach.

Biological motives refer to the innate, physiological mechanisms that influence our behaviors. These motives are fundamentally tied to our biological needs, which are essential for survival. Early theories of motivation primarily stemmed from this biological perspective, setting the foundation for modern understandings of human behavior.

Think of biological motives like the instinctual drives animals have. For instance, a hungry bear searches for food primarily because its biological imperative compels it to eat to survive. Similarly, humans feel compelled to eat when they are hungry due to their biological needs.

The earliest explanations of motivation relied on the concept of instinct. The term instinct denotes inborn patterns of behaviour that are biologically determined rather than learned. Some common human instincts include curiosity, flight, repulsion, reproduction, parental care, etc.

Instincts are natural, inborn drives that dictate certain behaviors in all members of a species. Unlike learned behaviors, instincts are hardwired, meaning they emerge naturally in individuals without requiring learning or experience. Common examples include a mother's instinct to protect her child, or the instinctual curiosity seen in infants as they explore their environment.

Consider a baby who instinctively knows to cry when it needs food or comfort. This reaction isn't learned; it's a natural instinct. Just like animals have instincts tailored to their survival, humans possess similar instincts that drive their actions.

Some of the basic biological needs explained by this approach are hunger, thirst, and sex, which are essential for the sustenance of the individual.

Biological motives are primarily driven by fundamental needs. Humans, just like all living creatures, have essential biological needs: hunger, thirst, and sexual motivation. These needs arise from internal physiological states. When these needs are unmet, they create a state of tension that drives individuals to engage in behaviors aimed at satisfying these needs.

If you haven’t eaten all day, the feeling of hunger grows stronger and becomes distracting. This sensation encourages you to seek food, illustrating the biological motive at play. It's a similar feeling as thirst; when your body needs water, the urge to drink becomes hard to ignore.

Motivation to engage in sexual activity is a very strong factor influencing human behaviour. However, sex is far more than a biological motive.

While sexual motivation is a strong biological drive, it is influenced by more than just physiological needs. Factors like emotional connection, social context, and personal values also play significant roles in sexual motivation. This complexity sets sexual motivation apart from other basic biological needs like hunger and thirst.

Think about how relationships affect your interest in sex. A person may feel a biological drive but may not act on it without the emotional connection or mutual feelings involved. This shows that while biological factors drive sexual behavior, psychological and social factors also influence our choices.

Studies have indicated that many events inside and outside the body may trigger hunger or inhibit it. The stimuli for hunger include stomach contractions, which signify that the stomach is empty, a low concentration of glucose in the blood, a low level of protein and the amount of fats stored in the body.

Hunger is triggered by various physiological signals from the body. For instance, when the stomach is empty, it contracts and sends signals to the brain, indicating the need for food. Additionally, the levels of glucose and fat in the blood play a crucial role in regulating hunger. This explains why some individuals feel hungry at set times as their body's internal systems signal the need for food.

Imagine you skipped lunch; by 3 PM, your stomach may start growling loudly. This physical reaction signals to your brain that it's time to eat. If you walk past a bakery, the smell of fresh bread may intensify your feeling of hunger, showing how external cues can also trigger biological motives.

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