What is thought to be the main driving force behind plate movements?

A. Hot plumes

B. Simple convection cycles in the mantle

C. Slab-pull

D. Slab-push

Causes of plate motion

Mantle convection currents, ridge push and slab pull are three of the forces that have been proposed as the main drivers of plate movement (based on What drives the plates? Pete Loader). There are a number of competing theories that attempt to explain what drives the movement of tectonic plates.