Drive, incentive, and reinforcement.

Abstract

"This paper deals with two possible reinforcers: drive reduction and consummatory response. Experiments designed to separate their influence have yielded evidence in support of both. Drive reduction seems to be a sufficient condition for response selection. But rewards apparently do more than reduce drives; as incentives they appear to heighten excitement as well as activate instrumental responses. This poses a problem: How can drive reduction and incentive induction both produce the same result, i.e., strengthen a concurrent response? It is suggested that Guthrie''s theory, with the aid of two motivational constructs, drive and goal, offers a solution." 46 references.