What motivates behavior?

We learned a few different theories of what motivates behavior.

We learned about the instinct theory - which said that there's a fixed pattern throughout a species that is unlearned. It was saying that behavior is directed toward a goal found within ourselves.

We learned about the drive-reduction theory - that behavior's directed to maintain equilibrium and reach homeostasis.

We learned about the optimum level of arousal theory - that we seek optimum levels of arousal beyond fulfilling our basic needs - so much so that we'll even take risks to achieve it.

We learned about Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs pyramid - it explains what we focus our attention on. As soon as one level is attained, we go to the next level. It goes from physiological needs to security needs to social needs to esteem needs and finally to self actualizing needs.

Which one do you prefer? It's a pretty hard question when you think about it. You start to drift toward one theory and then you realize oh wait, no, this one makes more sense. And keep going til you've drifted from theory to theory to theory. But they all interact with one another and build on one another - similar to the other things we've seen in psychology.

The theories of things that motivate us: money, happiness, etc. all fall into these theories. I found a really cool and interesting video on youtube that explains what motivates us.

Which of the theories we learned about do you find within this video?