AP Psychology Unit 4.6 & 4.7 Vocab Terms

Arousal Theory

People are driven to perform actions in order to maintain an optimum level of physiological arousal; maintains homeostasis.

Incentive Theory

Motivation from incentives, extrinsic reinforcement, or punishment; focuses specifically on how rewards motivate behavior

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

When attitudes differ from actions, attitudes change to reduce tension (dissonance)

Drive-reduction Theory

This theory says we act to satisfy basic needs.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Medium arousal results in the best performance; low arousal and too high arousal results in poor performance.

Self-Determination Theory

Explains how people are motivated to grow and change.

Instrinsic motivation

Comes from within: doing something because its inherently enjoyable, playing piano because you love music, and driven by personal satisfaction, curiosity, or growth.

Extrinsic motivation

Comes from outside sources; doing something for external rewards or to avoid punishment, studying to get good grades or avoid failing, or driven by praise, money, recognition, or avoiding negative outcomes.

Approach-approach conflict

When you have to pick between two attractive options, but you can only pick one.

Approach-avoidant conflict

One option has both positive and negative aspects.

Avoidance-avoidance conflict

When both choices are unattractive.

Sensation-Seeking Theory

Suggest that our motivation can come from a desire for new or exciting experiences. People are driven by a need for variety or novel activities.

Experience seeking

Looking for new ideas and experiences

Thrill or adventure seeking

Wanting to engage in risky or exciting activities

Disinhibition

Seeking situations that lower self-control or social norms.

Boredom susceptibility

Finding it hard to tolerate repetitive or dull situations.

Ghrelin

Stimulates hunger

Leptin

Inhibits hunger; feeling full

James-Lange Theory

Emotions result from cognitive awareness of physiological responses; Body first, mind interprets

Cannon-Bard Theory

Emotion and physiological response are independent and simultaneous; Separate responses triggered by the same event.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial expressions can influence emotions.