8. Motivation

fuh dih clah

Instinct

A behavior we are born with and therefore does not need to be learned.

Drive-Reduction Theory

we are driven to reduce these drives so that we may maintain a sense of internal calmness.

Homeostasis

The tendency of the body (and the mind) to natural gravitate toward a state of equilibrium or balance.

Incentive

how external factors (incentives) motivate behavior, acting as lures or deterrents

Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s Theory of Motivation which states that we must achieve lower level needs, such as food, shelter, and safety before we can achieve higher level needs, such as belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Set Point

proposes that the body has a genetically influenced, predetermined weight range (or baseline for emotional states like happiness) that it strives to maintain

Basal Metabolic Rate

the minimum calories your body needs at rest for essential functions like breathing, circulation, and temperature

Anorexia Nervosa

psychological illness and eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and severe restriction of energy intake, leading to significantly low body weight

Bulimia Nervosa

eating disorder characterized by a recurrent cycle of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (purging) to prevent weight gain

James-Lange Theory

emotions are the result of interpreting our body's physiological responses to external stimuli

Cannon-Bard Theory

a stimulus triggers simultaneous, independent emotional and physiological responses, meaning feeling afraid and having a racing heart happen at the same time, not one causing the other

Two-Factor Theory

emotions result from a combination of physiological arousal (like a racing heart) and a cognitive label (interpreting the situation)

Facial Feedback

your facial expressions directly influence your subjective emotional experience

Catharsis

the process of releasing strong, repressed emotions (like anger, fear, or grief) to achieve relief, purification, and renewal, often through expression, leading to better emotional regulation and insight

Feel-good, Do good phenomenon

the tendency for people to be more helpful, kind, and altruistic towards others when they are already experiencing positive emotions

Adaptation-level phenomenon

describes our tendency to judge new stimuli (like sounds, income, or success) relative to a neutral baseline established by our past experiences

Relative Deprivation

the feeling of being worse off than others or a past self, based on social comparison

Behavioral Medicine

interdisciplinary field that integrates behavioral, psychological, and biomedical sciences to understand and treat health and illness

Health Psychology

branch of psychology focusing on how biological, psychological, and social factors (biopsychosocial model) influence physical health, well-being, illness, and healthcare systems

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

the body's universal three-stage physiological response to stress: Alarm (fight-or-flight), Resistance (adaptation to ongoing stress), and Exhaustion (depletion of resources leading to potential illness or burnout)

Type A

the body's universal three-stage physiological response to stress: Alarm (fight-or-flight), Resistance (adaptation to ongoing stress), and Exhaustion (depletion of resources leading to potential illness or burnout)

Type B

an easygoing, relaxed, flexible, and patient disposition

Psychophysiological Illness

a genuine physical condition whose symptoms are caused or worsened by mental factors like stress, anxiety, or emotional distress, demonstrating the powerful mind-body connection

Psychoneuroimmunology

studies the complex, bidirectional communication between your thoughts/emotions (psycho), nervous system (neuro), and immune system (immunology)

Lymphocytes

crucial white blood cells forming the core of the immune system, responsible for recognizing and fighting pathogens

Motivation

Glucose

Sexual-Response Theory

Refractory Period

Sexual Orientation

Flow

Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology

Structures Interviews