Question

A rat deprived of food will learn a new response even if it is given only a nonnutritive, saccharine-sweetened substance after performing the new response. This finding is most problematic for which theory of motivation?

Answer 1

Answer: The drive theory of motivation.

Explanation:

The drive threory of motivation is based on the principle that organisms have certain psycological or physiological needs (in this case, hunger). When those needs are not satisfied, a tension in the organism is produced, and with it a drive to seek the satisfaction of that need.

Because the substance the rat recieves is nonnutritive (it doesn't reduce the rat's hunger), we can clearly see that the rat isn't performing the response because of this drive, seeking for the satisfaction of its hunger, but is motivated by another feeling. Therefore, this observation is problematic for the drive theory of motivation.