The drive to resist compulsion is more important in wild animals than sex, food, or water. He found that captive white-footed mice spent inordinate time and energy just resisting experimental manipulation. If the experimenters turned the lights up, the mouse spent his time turning them down. If the experimenter turned the lights down, the mouse turned them up. The drive for competence or to resist compulsion is a drive to avoid helplessness.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the significance of the drive to resist compulsion in wild animals, as it surpasses even their basic needs for survival such as sex, food, and water. Based on observations of captive white-footed mice, it was concluded that these animals invest considerable time and energy in resisting experimental manipulation. Regardless of whether the experimenter turned the lights up or down, the mice would counteract this change. This behavior exemplifies how the need for competence or the desire to avoid helplessness is a powerful motivator in animals, often superseding their other fundamental instincts.

Topics