Explain why people date from the perspective of the four theories of motivation: instinct doctrine, drive reduction theory, arousal theory, and incentive theory.?
What will be an ideal response?
ANSWER:
From the perspective of instinct doctrine, especially its most modern descendant, evolutionary psychology, dating behavior associated with love and marriage is a result of innate desires to create offspring to propagate our genes with as great a chance of success as possible. Therefore, one’s choice of mate is influenced by perceptions (often nonconscious) of the genetic fitness of the candidate person.
From the point of view of drive reduction theory, dating is a way of satisfying a drive to find a mate for reproduction. This biologically based drive creates an imbalance in homeostasis that motivates us to behave in such a way as to restore the balance. Thus, we engage in social behaviors that we believe will lead to the satisfaction of our need for a mate and offspring.
Arousal theory would propose that we seek out stimulation that will lead to increased states of arousal. Although not offered as an explanation for all types of behavior, arousal theory does provide the possibility of explaining behaviors that other theories don’t explain satisfactorily. In the case of dating, arousal theory might emphasize the role of novelty (meeting new people and engaging in new activities) and curiosity, which both play a role in increasing and maintaining desired levels of arousal.
From the point of view of incentive theory, external stimuli motivate behavior. In terms of dating, this means that we are drawn to individuals and dating scenarios that bring positive incentives and maximize pleasure. Dating needs to have some positive incentives and pleasure associated with it in order for us to pursue it. A hungry woman may accept a date with a man who offers to buy her dinner or a woman may choose to date a man who makes her laugh and feel good about herself.?