Clark L. Hull’s Drive Reduction Theory (1943) proposed that much of human and animal behaviour is energised by physiological needs that create uncomfortable internal states, drives, which organisms are motivated to reduce through goal-directed action, such as eating to reduce hunger or drinking to reduce thirst; by framing motivation as a process of restoring homeostasis, Hull offered one of the first formal, experimentally grounded models explaining why behaviour is initiated, sustained, and reinforced, deeply influencing mid-20th-century learning theory and later motivational research. Although later theories expanded beyond its biological focus, Hull’s work remains inspiring today because it highlights how understanding and responding to our internal states, rather than ignoring or resisting them, can support personal wellbeing by promoting balanced habits, mindful self-regulation, and healthier coping strategies; moreover, recognising that people’s behaviours often arise from unmet basic needs can foster societal health by encouraging compassionate policies in education, public health, and social services that reduce deprivation and support individuals in achieving stable, fulfilling lives. An error often made by psychological researchers is to assume that internal states are solely a function of physiological events. It is only when an adequately comprehensive model of personhood is adopted, not only recognising the influence of physical, psychological, and spiritual factors, but asserting the primacy of the spirit, that true wholeness of the individual and society may ultimately be achieved. Hence the prophet Isaiah invites us to bring our inner need to God that we may drink freely and satisfy our souls (Isaiah 55).