Motive

Motives, or needs, are the basic physical and mental requirements or desires of Sims and pets. In The Sims 2, The Sims 3 and The Sims 4, Sims in different life states may have different motives, and some motives will drop faster or slower depending on a Sim's life stage.

Basic motives
In The Sims Social and The Sims FreePlay, fulfilling motives/needs will make the Sim inspired, and inspired Sims will earn more simoleons. In FreePlay, giving a Sim a cupcake will instantly fill the Sim's motives.
 * Hunger/Thirst (Replaces hunger for vampires in TS3/TS4)
 * Comfort (Moodlets in TS3 and TS4)
 * Social
 * Hygiene
 * Fun
 * Room/Environment (Moodlets in TS3 and TS4)
 * Energy
 * Bladder
 * Sunlight exposure (Hidden motive for vampires in TS3 that is shown with moodlets, such as fatigue)

Cut motives

 * Family (, reverted to Social)
 * Friends (, reverted to Social)

Moodlet-motive Chart
Note: These numbers below are approximate as there are no numerical indication for motives.

The Sims 2: Open for Business

 * Power (Replaces energy)
 * Social
 * Fun
 * Environment

The Sims 2: Seasons

 * Water
 * Love (Replaces social)
 * Sunlight
 * Fun (Hidden motive)

The Sims 3: University Life

 * Water (Replaces hygiene)
 * Energy
 * Social
 * Fun

The Sims 3: Island Paradise

 * Hunger
 * Social
 * Hydration (Replaces Hygiene)
 * Bladder
 * Energy
 * Fun

Pet motives
All large pets in The Sims: Unleashed, The Sims 2: Pets, The Sims 3: Pets and The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs share these motives:
 * Hunger
 * Energy
 * Bladder

Other pet motives are:
 * Social
 * Comfort
 * Hygiene
 * Fun (cats and dogs, not horses)
 * Scratch (cats)
 * Chew (dogs)
 * Destruction (dogs)
 * Exercise (horses)
 * Thirst (adult horses)
 * Bowel
 * Play
 * Affection

Small pets have no visible needs, but will die if not fed for too long.

SimBot motives

 * Scrap Reserves (Replaces hunger)
 * Waste Buildup (Replaces bladder)
 * Charge (Replaces energy)
 * Human Interaction (Replaces social)
 * Trivial Entertainment (Replaces fun)

Plumbot motives

 * Battery Power (Replaces energy)
 * Maintenance
 * Social
 * Fun

Urgencies and motive failures
A Sim will react to low motives through urgencies. When a need becomes too low, a Sim will have a thought bubble with the image of that need over their head and will make a motion, such as holding themselves if they need to use the bathroom, or by clutching their stomach and pointing at their mouths when hungry.

Sleeping Sims with low needs often have nightmares about the low motives. Sims with low needs tend to wave at the player and complain, and will not learn any new skills until their mood improves. They will also refuse to do several actions. Visiting Sims whose needs fall too low will leave in order to fulfill them.

If a motive is not fulfilled and is fully depleted, motive failure will occur. This will have major consequences to the Sim. In The Sims: Livin' Large, if most of the family members are in a bad mood and the Tragic Clown painting is on the lot, the Tragic Clown may pay a visit.

Below are the list of motive failures and their final effects.
 * Bladder failure: The Sim wets themselves, creating a puddle of water and a subsequent hygiene failure. In The Sims 3 for smartphone, the Sim's bladder may explode, which will cause death.
 * Comfort failure: No special effects aside from a significantly decreased mood.
 * Energy failure: The Sim passes out on the ground. If this motive failure happens while swimming, the Sim will drown.
 * Environment failure: No special effects aside from a significantly decreased mood. In The Sims, Sims will not complain about this motive being low.
 * Fun failure: No special effects aside from a significantly decreased mood.
 * Hunger failure: The Sim dies of starvation.
 * Hygiene failure: Green whiff clouds will begin to emanate from the Sim. Other Sims will react negatively to the stench and may reject social interactions from the affected Sim.
 * Social failure: The Social Bunny appears to fulfill the motive. In all games, Sims will suffer from a significantly decreased mood. In The Sims 2 (console) Sims will cry until their social is raised. Children may get taken away.
 * Hydration failure: The mermaid dies of dehydration if not splashed in time.
 * Power failure: If Servos run out of power, they will automatically attempt to recharge, even if they are located indoors or if it's nighttime. If the Servo isn't allowed to recharge, they may run amok and cause chaos, often electrocuting other Sims in the process.
 * Sunlight/Water failure: If PlantSims do not receive adequate sunlight or water, they may run outside and pass out.
 * Sunlight/Water failure: If PlantSims do not receive adequate water, they can't photosynthesize, causing their Sunlight motive to run out. If either motive runs out, the Sim dies.
 * Sunlight exposure failure: If vampires spend too much time exposed to sunlight, they may pass out, temporarily lose their vampire abilities, and become thirsty for plasma much more quickly.
 * Thirst failure:: If vampires get too thirsty, they will die.
 * Thirst failure:: If vampires get too thirsty, they may attack a random Sim if they do not have the "Tamed Thirst" perk.