In this third article on Drive Types, I will begin the discussion of what I call Type C Drives. In previous articles, I have been explaining how I have decided to define Drive: “I’ve had to choose to organize the different definitions of drive into 3 categories: a motivation like hunger as Type A Drive, play as Type B Drive, and the classical set of these behaviors (Sex; Prey; Defensive; and Pack) as Class C Drive.” This was done because it was about time to make sense of the misuse of the term Drive, and to compensate for how it is used in various ways in various studies and books since there is no way to re-write every study to make clarifications. By making these distinctions, I find it is easier to explain, discuss, and implement practical training and behavior modification. Someone needed to take this step.
A Drive is kind of like an engine. It helps the car move.
Type C Drives most closely fit the above description. This set of drives was comprised of the classically accepted drives, but then they gained baggage as scientists set up experiments to simulate the drives to try and understand them. But the simulations, especially using Type A Drives, were mere pictures of drives, not studies of the drives themselves. So, while Type C Drives clearly exist, most of our drive research is based upon laboratory experiments using Type A Drives. Those research shortcuts have harmed dog training theories and methods.
Using a motor engine analogy to make it more understandable, Type C Drives have three things in common: 1) A way to start the engine; 2.) A predictable series of motor actions (fan starts spinning, air comes in, exhaust comes out, crankshaft spins, pistons go up and down, valves open and close, etc.); and 3.) A way to turn off the engine. These 3 things don’t exist for Type A or B Drives. As such, the research on drives, mainly done on Type A Drives, give little help when trying to practically apply their conclusions to training a dog in the real world.
Why does this matter? Because most dog owners and trainers don’t clearly understand Type C Drives, they tend to use force to train dogs to be inert walking carpets. Everything is about shutting down ALL the drives. Now, when you see a dog being bullied and punished for everything that makes a dog a dog, by an owner or trainer, then you know that they don’t know what they are doing… regardless of their resume.
How do you use the Type A, B, and C Drives in the real world?
Read my other articles.
Plan accordingly.