94 PSYCHOLOGY
interest is explained by the curiosity drive. The different color or the different
shape of the novel rattle elicits attention. The curiosity drive is activated by
change of stimulation.
The need for stimulation is a profound one. Sensory deprivation research
brings this point into bold relief. Sensory deprivationexists when vision, hear-
ing, and the other senses are forced to operate with little or no information aris-
ing from the external world. Volunteer subjects deprived of light, sound, and
other information to the senses often report sensory hallucinations. Some see fly-
ing fireballs. Others hear strange music. Some have out-of-body experiences. All
of this suggests that it is necessary to have a flow of stimulation in order to main-
tain perceptual stability.
And change of stimulation, sought by the curiosity drive, has a greater value
than constant stimulation. The same note played over and over and over again is
experienced as boring. A series of notes played in different pitches and with time
variations becomes an interesting melody.(a) Like biological drives, general drives are also.
(b) The curiosity drive is activated by.(c) What state exists when vision, hearing, and the other senses are forced to operate with
little or no information arising from the external world?
Answers: (a) inborn; (b) change of stimulation; (c) Sensory deprivation.The curiosity drive may also play a role in risk-taking behavior,behavior
in which individuals unnecessarily place themselves in physical jeopardy. Exam-
ples of such behavior include sky diving, hang gliding, hot air ballooning, driv-
ing over the speed limit, and so forth. One interpretation of such behavior is to
hypothesize that some individuals have self-destructive tendencies. And it is
possible that such tendencies may play an important role in the behavior. A sec-
ond interpretation of risk-taking behavior is to hypothesize that some individ-
uals are somewhat bored with their day-to-day lives, lives that do not include
enough change of stimulation. Risk-taking behavior is one way of increasing
the level of stimulation, increasing central nervous system arousal, and experi-
encing excitement.
A second general drive to be identified is the activity drive,one that urges
us to make motor movements even when our biological drives are satisfied. A
rat that is not hungry, thirsty, nor otherwise in biological need can be placed in
a wheeled cage. If it runs, the cage will spin. And the rat will run for no partic-
ular reason other than to run. Infants display a certain amount of restless
motion. If an adult is forced to sit and wait for a long time in a physician’s office,
it is likely that the individual will cross and uncross his or her legs, get up and
walk around, step outside for a few minutes, and so forth. The movement is an
end in itself.