Chapter 9: Motivation and Emotion

motivation

The force that moves people to behave, think, and feel the way they do

instinct

An innate (unlearned) biological pattern of behavior that is assumed to be universal throughout a species

drive reduction theory

Explains that as a drive becomes stronger, we are motivated to reduce it.

Need

A deprivation that energizes the drive to eliminate or reduce the deprivation

Drive

An aroused state that occurs because of a physiological need.

Homeostasis

What is the goal of drive reduction?

optimum arousal theory

Individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal level of physiological and psychological arousal, where they feel alert and engaged but not stressed or bored

Yerkes-Dodson law

The psychological principle stating that performance is best under conditions of moderate arousal rather than either low or high arousal

the hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s theory that human needs must be satisfied in the following sequence: physiological needs, safety, love and belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization.

Self-actualization

The motivation to develop one’s full potential as a human being—the highest and most elusive of Maslow’s proposed needs.

self-determination theory

Deci and Ryan’s theory asserting that all humans have three basic, innate organismic needs: competence, relatedness, and autonomy. Holds that all of us have the capacity for growth and fulfillment in us, ready to emerge if our basic needs are met.

Autonomy

The sense that we are in control of our own life

intrinsic motivation

Motivation based on internal factors such as organismic needs (competence, relatedness, and autonomy), as well as curiosity, challenge, and fun

extrinsic motivation

Motivation that involves external incentives such as rewards and punishments.

self-regulation

The process by which an organism effortfully controls its behavior in order to pursue important objectives

emotion

Feeling, or affect, that can involve physiological arousal (such as a fast heartbeat), conscious experience (thinking about being in love with someone), and behavioral expression (a smile or grimace)

James-Lange theory

The theory that emotion results from physiological states triggered by stimuli in the environment.

Cannon-Bard theory

The proposition that emotion and physiological reactions occur simultaneously.

two-factor theory of emotion

Schachter and Singer’s theory that emotion is determined by two factors: physiological arousal and cognitive labeling (interpret external cues and then label the emotion).

facial feedback hypothesis

The idea that facial expressions can influence emotions and reflect them

universal facial expressions

Facial expressions of basic emotions appear to be universal.

display rules

Sociocultural standards that determine when, where, and how emotions should be expressed

circumplex model

A circular graph created from two independent dimensions of valence and arousal to arrange emotional states in an organized fashion.

Valence

Refers to whether an emotion feels pleasant or unpleasant.

Arousal level

The degree to which the emotion is reflected in a person’s being active, engaged, or excited versus being more passive, relatively disengaged, or calm.