Drive Theory

Abstract

In Chapter One it was indicated that there are two major approaches that address the question, Why do people behave as they do? One plan is to postulate a basic principle of action and then account for a wide array of behaviors by appealing to that principle. Freudian psychology, which assumes that individuals are striving to reduce sexual end aggressive urges, is the example par excellence of this theoretical strategy. Dreams, slips of the tongue, war, neurosis, art, and humor are just some of the phenomena that were systematically incorporated into Freudian theory because they allegedly gratify sexual or aggressive needs.