AP Psychology - Unit 12 Slides

Motivation

Understanding __________ involves exploring how behaviors address physical needs and desires.

Drive-Reduction Theory

Behaviors help maintain homeostasis, like eating when hungry to reduce the drive for food.

Arousal Theory

People seek an optimal level of arousal, like seeking excitement or relaxation depending on current arousal levels.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Performance increases with arousal up to an optimal point, after which it declines. Example would be performing best under moderate stress, but performance deteriorates under extreme stress.

Self-Determination Theory

People are motivated by intrinsic (internal) or extrinsic (external) motivations.

Intrinsic Motivation

Performing an activity for its inherent satisfaction, like reading a book for pleasure

Extrinsic Motivation

Performing an activity for external rewards, like working for a paycheck.

Incentive Theory

Explores the role of rewards (an extrinsic motivation) in motivating behavior. Example would be studying hard to receive good grades

Instincts

Innate, typically fixed patterns of behavior in response to certain stimuli, like birds migrating seasonally.

Human Motivation

Humans do not seem to demonstrate instinctual behavior or mental processes in the same way as animals.

Approach-Approach Conflict

Choosing between two desirable