Gen psych Motivation

Motivation

The biological, emotional, cognitive, or social forces that act on or within you, to activate and direct behavior

The three characteristics commonly associated with motivation are

Activation, Persistence, Intensity

Instinct

a complex behavior with a fixed pattern throughout the species and be unlearned

Activation

Begins with an idea

Persistence

Do you hold on to your motivation continuously

Intensity

Working hard on maintaining what u want

Drive-reduction Theory

the idea that physiological needs create an arousal state that drives the organism to reduce that need or to satisfy it

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a steady internal state (body temp, energy level)

Incentives

Positive or negative stimuli that lure or repel us and motivate behavior. (reward)

Arousal Theory

The urge for the optimal level of stimulation. When all biological needs are met, we are driven to seek more stimulation. 

A Hierarchy of motives

The concept that some needs take priority over others

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Describes how if some motives are unsatisfied, it can be more compelling and must be satisfied first before higher-level needs

Hierarchy of motives bottom to top (left to right)

Physiological needs - Safety - Belonging and love - esteem - Self-actualization - Self-transcendence

Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory

Theory that people are actively growth-oriented, but to reach optimal human functioning, the three psychological needs, including autonomy, competence, and relatedness, must be satisfied

Autonomy

the need to determine, control, and organize one's own behavior and goals

Competence

the need to learn and master appropriately challenging tasks

Relatedness

 The need to feel attached to others and experience a sense of belongingness, security, and intimacy

The Self-determination theory

identifies competence as a universal motive

Achievement motivation

 The desire to direct behavior toward excelling, succeeding, or outperforming others at some task

Positive incentive value theory

the heightened anticipation of the pleasure of consuming a particular food

Evolutionary Perspective

over-eating helps build energy reserves for times when food may be scarce or unavailable 

Satiation

In eating behavior, the feeling of fullness and diminished desire to eat after a meal

Instinct Theory

Some human motives are innate and due to genetic programming