behavioral sciences - motivation, emotion, and stress

page 56 from the MCAT review sheets document

motivation

the purpose, or driving force, behind our actions (extrinsic or intrinsic)

instincts

innate, fired patterns of behavior in response to stimuli

Instinct Theory

people perform certain behaviors because of their evolutionary programmed instincts

arousal

the state of being awake and reactive to stimuli

Optimal Arousal Theory

optimal performance requires optimal arousal, levels that are too high or two low will impede performance

drives

internal states of tension that beget particular behaviors focused on goals

primary drives

related to biological processes

secondary drives

stem from learning

Drive Reduction Theory

motivation arises from the desire to eliminate drives, which create uncomfortable internal states

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

physiological, safety and security, love and belonging, self-esteem, self-actualization

self-actualization

full realization of one’s talents and potential

Self-Determination Theory

emphasizes three universal needs; autonomy, competence, and relatedness

Incentive Theory

explains motivation as the desire to pursue rewards and avoid punishments

Expectancy-Value Theory

the amount of motivation for a task is based on the expectation of success and the value of that success

Opponent-Process Threory

explains motivation for drug use (if drug use is stopped, the body goes through withdrawal, causing painful symptoms)

House Money Effect

after a prior gain, people become more open to assuming risk since the new money is not treated as their own

Gambler’s Fallacy

if something happens more frequently than normal, it will happen less in the future, and vice versa

Prisoner’s Dilemma

two people act out of their self-interest, but if they had cooperated, the result would have been better

emotion

a state of mind, or feeling, that is subjectively experienced based on circumstances, mood, and relationships

three components of emotion

cognitive, physiological, behavioral

7 universal emotions

happiness, sadness, contempt, surprise, fear, disgust, and anger

James-Lange Theory

behavioral and physiological actions lead to emotion

Cannon-Bard Theory

emotional and physiological responses to a stimulus occur simultaneously, separate and independent

Schacter-Singer Theory

two-factor theory of emotion; physiological arousal and interpretation of context or “cognitive label” lead to emotion

limbic system

concerned with instincts and mood

stress

the physiological and cognitive response to challenges or life changes

primary stress appraisal

classifying a potential stressor as irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful

secondary stress appraisal

evaluating if the organism can cope with stress

stressors

anything that leads to a stress response (distress or eustress)

General Adaptation Syndrome

specific stressors do not have specific responses (generate the same general physical response)

3 stages of stress

alarm, resistance, exhaustion