AP Psych - Motivation and Emotion Vocab

motivation

the need or desire that energizes and directs behavior

drive-reduction theory

the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused state (a drive) that motivates one to satisfy the need (need→arousal→achieve)

arousal theory

the idea that humans are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal (alertness)

physiological need

a basic bodily requirement

homestasis

a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level

affiliation need

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

basal metabolic rate

the body’s resting rate of energy output

yerkes-dodson law

the principle that performance increases with arousal only up to a certain point then decreases as it did before (for example, moderate arousal is the best when taking an AP exam but low arousal or high arousal will result in poor performance) 

self-determination theory

the theory that we feel motivated to satisfy our needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness (mastery, control, and connection)

intrinsic motivation

the desire to perform a behavior effectively for it’s own sake; for pleasure or enjoyment

extrinsic motivation

the desire to perform a behavior to receive awards or avoid punishments

incentive theory

behaviors are motivated by external rewards, both positive and negative, which are associated with specific actions

instincts

complex behaviors that are rigidly patterned an unlearned throughout a species

lewin’s motivational conflicts

the theory that categorizes how people handle decision-making by identifying psychological conflicts

approach-approach

a situation that has two desirable options (beach or water park)

approach-avoidance

a situation that has only one choice with both positive and negative aspects (job has long hours but good pay)

avoidance-avoidance 

a situation that has two unpleasant options (prison or death)

sensation-seeking theory

the theory that those deemed as “sensation seekers” may seek experience, thrill, and adventure, be more susceptible to boredom, and more likely to lose their self-control

eating motivation

the complex drive that initiates, sustains, and directs eating behavior

ghrelin hormone

an appetite stimulating stomach hormone that increases the brain’s response to food cues (HUNGER)

leptin hormone

a hormone that regulates appetite by signaling to the brain that the body has sufficient energy stores (SATIETY)

achievement motivation

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

set point

the point where the “weight thermostat” may be set, falling below this weight increases hunger and lowers metabolic rate which combine to restore back to the set point

hypothalamus

a region in the brain responsible for regulating hormones that influence hunger and satiety

pituitary gland

the hypothalamus sends messages to the gland to release hormones based on hunger levels (metabolism, stress, growth)

satiety

the feeling of fullness and satisfaction that stops the desire to eat

external factors impacting food

cultural factors and situational factors (environment and social) also impact hunger

emotions

mental states that combine bodily symptoms, cognitive appraisals, and feelings

universal emotions (such as happiness, anger, disgust, sadness, surprise, and fear)

emotions that all people -despite religion, race, gender, culture, or upbringing- can express

display rules

the socially learned norms that dictate how and when it is appropriate to display emotions

elicitors

stimuli or events, internal and external, that trigger an emotional response

james-lange theory

the theory that feeling comes after the body’s response to an emotion

cannon-bard theory

the theory that our bodily responses and experienced emotions occur separately but simultaneously

two-factor theory

the theory that emotions are the result of physical arousal and cognition

zajonc and ledoux

the theory that some simple emotional responses occur instantly before any cognitive proccesing

facial feedback effect

the tendency of facial muscle states to trigger corresponding feelings such as fear, anger, or happiness

behavior feedback effect

the tendency of behavior to influence our own and others’ thoughts, feelings, and actions