MESH Unit

Motivation

the driving force; comprising internal desires and external incentives that initiates, guides, and maintains goal

Incentive Theory

we do stuff for incentives, money, sex, trophies, praise, attention, grades, etc.

Extrinsic motivation

reward that we get for accomplishments from outside ourselves (grades,money,etc); work great in the short run

• Studies show that if you externally reward someone (excessively) for something they love doing they will lose their intrinsic desire for doing it

Intrinsic motivation

rewards we get internally, such as enjoyment and satisfaction

Primary drives

are innate biological needs (thirst, hunger, desire for sex) that are usually necessary for survival

Secondary drive

learned drive that is not directly associated with biological needs; not usually necessary for survival and often linked to social or identity facts (desire for wealth)

Lateral Hypothalamus

when stimulated it makes you hungry; when lesioned you will never be hungry again

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

when stimulated you feel full; when lesioned you will never feel full again

Self-efficacy

an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments

Arousal theory of motivation

motivated to seek an optimum level of arousal

Instinct theory

we are motivated by our inborn automated behaviors; behavior is unlearned; example is survival and instincts only explain why we do a small fraction of our behaviors

Drive theory

our behavior is motivated by biological needs; example is going to the bathroom; wants to maintain homeostasis; when we are not, we have a need that creates a drive

Yerkes-Dodson Law

we perform best under the optimal amount of arousal (like goldilocks) not too much, not too little

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow said we are motivated by needs, and all needs are not created equal; we are driven to satisfy the lower level of needs first

Self-actualization

people strive to reach their highest potential (humanistic psychology)

Esteem Needs

need for self-esteem, achievement, competence, independence; need for recognition and respect from others

Belonginess and Love

need to love and need to be loved; to belong and be accepted; need to avoid loneliness and alienation

Safety

need to feel that the world is organized and predictable; need to feel safe, secure, and stable

Physiological

need to satisfy hunger and thirst

Leptin

protein hormone that acts as a long-term satiety signal to the brain, suppressing hunger and reducing food intake

Glucose

hormone insulin converts glucose to fat; glucose levels drop = hunger increases

Hypothalamus

where hunger comes from

Set-Point Theory

wants to maintain stable weight; hypothalamus acts like a thermostat; activate the lateral when you diet, activate the ventromedial when you gain weight

Homeostasis

balanced state

Bulimia

characterized by binging and purging

Anorexia Nervosa

starve themselves to below 85% of their normal body weight; see themselves as fat; majority are women

Pheromones

chemical secreted by one creature to affect behavior of another (sex related)

Physiological arousal

The bodily response triggered by the autonomic nervous system; increased heart rate, sweaty palms, adrenaline release, changes in breathing rate (e.g., your heart pounds when you are scared)

Expressive Behaviors

behavioral responses such as facial expressions (smiling/frowning), body language, posture, or verbal reactions (e.g., screaming, laughing)

Conscious experience/Cognitive Appraisal

The personal, subjective interpretation of the event; this includes our mental assessment, appraisal, and labeling of the situation (e.g., "I am terrified," or "I am thrilled")

Facial expressions and culture

expression of anger is more encouraged in individualistic cultures (USA) than in cultures that do promote group behavior (China, Japan)

Approach-approach

when we have to decide between two desirable things

Approach-avoidance

both options have benefits and drawbacks

Stress: Cortisol and Adrenaline

two hormones that lead to stress; cortisol leads to weight gain

Cannon-Bard Theory

physiological change and cognitive awareness must occur simultaneously; believed it was thalamus that helped this happen

James-Lange Theory

based on autonomic nervous system; body changes and our mind interprets those changes as emotion

Shacter Two-Factory Theory

explains emotions more completely that the other two theories happen at the same time but includes cognitive appraisal or labeling of emotion

Lazarus Cognitive-Appraisal Theory

a thought (appraisal) must occur before physiological arousal or emotion.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

emotional expression can cause the emotions they signify

Microexpressions

minor facial expressions that last no longer than a tenth of a second

Psychological influences on eating

degree of having our biological needs met, drives us to seek stimulation