Drive to Move
- Varun Kheria
- Feb 28, 2024
- 3 min read
In 1943, two psychologists, Clark Hull and Kenneth Spence, proposed a drive theory to explain all types of human behaviour. According to their theory, a drive is an instinctual need that has the power to motivate an individual's behaviour. [1] Although it's an old concept, today we’ll be talking about it from a new perspective, that is, our need to engage in physical activity. Imagine you are relaxing on the couch after a long day, and suddenly, you feel the urge to go for a walk, hit the gym, or partake in any form of physical activity. That's drive in action - the inherent, sometimes unconscious, push to fulfil our needs and restore balance within ourselves.
Consider this: when you feel hungry, your desire compels you to look for food until you feel full, returning you to a state of balance. This cycle of hunger, tension, eating, relief, and satisfaction is all part of the complex interplay of motivational states, which are finely regulated by both internal and external factors.
Since birth, movement is ingrained in our biology. Movement is essential for our physical well-being, and as we age, this necessity for movement doesn't decline but changes. Whether it's playing as a child or taking brisk walks in our senior years, our bodies yearn for physical activity.
So, what compels us to keep moving? The idea proposed in several research papers is that psycho-physiological drive is the key factor. This means that movement is motivated by a combination of physiological arousal and psychological tension, which creates a balance that drives us to seek out and participate in physical activities. [2]
What happens when we are deprived of that movement? Just imagine being stuck inside for a long time - that feeling of restlessness and agitation that we experience is proof of our natural desire for physical activity. It's like a flame that burns deep within us, pushing us to stand up and start moving. It manifests itself in different ways, from fidgeting to the drive to work out! [3] The clearest example where almost everyone felt this deprivation is the COVID-19 pandemic. We couldn’t get out of our houses, which led to the deprivation of the basic human necessity of movement that we’re discussing here. That deprivation resulted in different physiological and psychological effects, hardly any of which were positive.
Scientists have created various tools, such as the CRAVE and ARGE scales, to measure our desires and urges for physical activity. These tools help us understand how our motivation for movement changes in different situations. This new understanding has paved the way for exploring behaviour models like the WANT (Wants and Aversions for Neuromuscular Tasks) model, which delves deeper into our motivations for physical activity and exercise. It proposes that the motivation for physical activity and sedentary behaviour is driven by the desire to reduce tension and increase pleasure. To read more about the CRAVE (Cravings for Rest and Volitional Energy Expenditure) scale, you can read this paper on it! [4]
Have you ever had a day where you didn’t feel like moving at all? The motivation to engage in physical activity and exercise can differ from moment to moment. These variations in motivation can be emotionally charged, ranging from low tension desires to high tension cravings and urges. Currently, it is unclear how often these motivation states have been studied in clinical populations such as eating disorders, exercise addiction, Restless Legs Syndrome, diabetes, and obesity, as compared to healthy populations. [5]
Although there is still much to be discovered in this field, one thing is certain: our motivation for movement is a powerful force that influences our behaviour in ways we are just beginning to understand. So, the next time you feel the urge to put on your sneakers and go for a run, remember that it is not just your body craving exercise but your drive pushing you towards balance and satisfaction!
- Varun Kheria, Science Communicator, ARISA Foundation
References:
Comments