Hull’s Theory Of Motivation

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Hull’s Theory Of Motivation

By Peace | April 25, 2006

Learning theorist Clark Hull incorporated this need-produced concept of drive into an equation for motivated behaviour. In Hull’s equation, the probability of a given behaviour is a function of three factors:

the drive the organism experiences as a result of a need state
the incentive, the value of the external stimulus that will reduce the need state, and
habit strength, the organism’s practice or past experience with, or ability to perform, the behaviour.

Hull’s equation can be summarized as B = D x I x H, where B refers to the behaviour, D to the drive state, I to the size of the incentive, and H to habit strength. The stronger these three factors are, the greater will be the likelihood that the organism will perform the behaviour in question. Alternatively, if any of these factors drops near zero in strength, so will the likelihood of the given behaviour.

The Neobehaviourist Perspective
Hull’s view of motivation is considered neobehaviourist rather than strictly behaviourist, because it relies on the operation of intervening variables like drive, incentive, and habit strength, instead of observable conditions and responses. Each intervening variable is assumed to be determined by an observable antecedent condition(a stimulus or influence). Likewise, the result of the interaction of the invtervening variables is assumed to be an observable, measurable aspect of behaviour.

Enthusiasm
To the woman who complained that riches hadn’t made her happy the Master said, “You speak as if luxury and comfort were ingredients of happiness; whereas all you need to be really happy, my dear, is something to be enthusiastic about.”