| Theory | Basic Premise | Role of Genetics | Role of Experience | Role of External Stimuli |
| Instinct | Some behaviors happen because the desire and ability to exhibit the behavior are an instinctual part of the organism | Behaviour patterns inherited | -- | May elicit behaviour in a preset form |
| Drive | A negative internal state motivates behaviour in a way that will reduce the negative internal state | Organism is born with internal drives | Organism can learn to satisfy these drives | Provide cues to sources of satisfaction |
| Incentive | Organism is attracted to desirable states and objects | Genetic structure determines what is pleasurable or aversive | Organism must learn what consequences occur in what situations | An attractive stimulus pulls behaviour toward the stimulus |