AP Psychology - Unit 4.7 Motivation

Motivation

• a need or desire that directs people to take action

• consists of biological, emotional, social, and cognitive factors

Instinct Theory

• non-human organisms have fixed patterns of complex behaviors that aid in their survival

• focuses on genetic predispositions

Drive-Reduction Theory

• proposes that behavior is often driven by the need for an individual to maintain homeostasis or reduce physiological imbalances

• hypothalamus plays a major role in regulation

Arousal Theory

proposes that people are driven toward experiences and activities that will maintain an optimal level of arousal

• arousal: alertness, interest, and energy

optimum levels differ between people

too little stimulation leads to boredom, while too much can lead to stress

Yerkes-Dodson Law

claims that higher arousal levels are correlated with improved performance up until the optimal arousal level is reached

• once it is reached, an individual’s performance decreases if their arousal level continues to increase

graphed as a bell curve

difficult tasks require lower arousal for better performance

Primary Needs

include basic biological/physiological needs

• food

• water

• sleep

Secondary Needs

psychological needs that help with a person’s well-being and social fulfillment

• social approval

• love

• sense of belonging

Incentive Theory

• emphasizes the idea that behaviors are largely driven by external rewards or punishments

• individuals are motivated to act due to extrinsic motivation

Sensation Seeking Theory

proposes that individuals have different needs for experiences

• each need impacts an individual’s motivation

Experience Seeking

• the desire for novel or unconventional experiences

Thrill or Adventure Seeking

an attraction to physically risky or fear-inspiring activities

• ex: skydiving

Disinhibition

• the tendency for individuals to attend social events that allow them to let go of their self-consciousness

Boredom Susceptibility

• refers to an individual’s tolerance for repetitive or routine experiences

• influences how much an individual will seek new stimulation to avoid feeling bored

Affiliation Need

• the need to build and maintain relationships and to feel part of a group

• an innate desire for humans

• promotes connection and trust

Social Identity

• the sense of feeling part of a group

• boosts people’s health and well-being

Self-Determination Theory

people feel motivated to satisfy their needs of autonomy (a sense of control over one’s actions), competence, and relatedness

behaviors motivated by these needs tend to be intrinsically motivated

fulfilling these motives causes a reduction in stress and a boost in self-esteem

Kurt Lewin’s Motivational Conflict Theory

• proposes that people are driven by the motivation to solve internal conflicts

• individuals become motivated to act when confronted with a choice

Approach-Approach Conflict

• a person has to choose between two desirable outcomes

Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict

• a person must choose between two undesirable outcomes

Approach-Avoidance Conflict

• one choice has both positive and negative aspects

Ostracism

• the act of deliberately socially excluding an individual or group

• used to punish and control social behavior

• threatens one’s need to belong

Self-Disclosure

• an individual shares their joys, worries, and weaknesses with others

• can act as a healthy way of coping

Achievement Motivation

• a desire for significant accomplishment, for mastery of skills or ideas, for control, and for attaining a high standard

Grit

• passion and perseverance in the pursuit of an ambitious, long-term goal

Glucose

a form of sugar that provides the major source of energy for body tissues

when levels drop, the stomach, intestines, and liver send signals to the brain to motivate appetite

Lateral Hypothalamus

• increases hunger when stimulated

• if it is destroyed, animals feel no desire to eat

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

• suppresses hunger when stimulated

• if it is destroyed, animals can not stop eating

Ghrelin

• “hunger-arousing hormone”

• signals to the brain that the body needs energy

• secreted by an empty stomach

Orexin

• hunger-triggering hormone

• secreted by hypothalamus

Leptin

• produced by fat cells

• causes the brain to increase metabolism and decrease hunger

• “satiety hormone”

PYY

• digestive tract hormone

• signals fullness to the brain

Set-Point

refers to the natural range of weight that an individual’s body gravitates to

• when the body falls below this weight, increased hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may combine to restore lost weight

Basal Metabolic Rate

• the resting rate of energy expenditure for maintaining basic body functions

• rate drops if an individual decreases their food intake

Hypothalamus

• processes signals from hormones to help the body

Pituitary Gland

• secretes hormones that influence bodily functions