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Drive Reduction Theory Of Motivation In 127 Hours

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In the film 127 Hours, James Franco portrays Aron Ralston, a real-life rock climber who resorted to cutting off his own hand after spending days trapped in Blue John Canyon in Utah. The film demonstrates various theories of motivation, including the arousal theory of motivation, the drive-reduction theory theory of motivation, and the instinct theory of motivation. Ralston was initially motivated by a constant need for excitement, which is why he enjoyed rock climbing in the first place. According to the arousal theory of motivation, humans are motivated to attain a certain level of arousal or stimulation, either mental or physical. It is safe to say that Ralston required even more stimulation than the average person. Even prior to his fateful experience in Blue John Canyon, Ralston was a thrill seeker. Already an experienced rock climber, he was constantly looking to fulfill his need for action. However, the way he went about seeking his thrills was often extremely reckless. He did not tell a single person where he was going before this particular journey, which nearly cost him his life. The drive-reduction theory of motivation …show more content…

These instincts include the will to survive and the wisdom to know when to accept death in dire situations. Ralston’s first instincts after becoming trapped were to call out for help and to attempt to move the boulder that had crushed his hand in order to escape. Despite these initial futile attempts, some behaviors displayed by Ralston during his dilemma seem to suggest that he was prepared to die. He made a video addressing his parents and loved ones and informing them of his demise. He also used his utility knife to carve his name, his date of birth, and his presumed death date into the canyon wall. However, his will to survive ultimately took over and motivated him to withstand the extreme pain of removing his own hand in order to escape to eventual

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