AP Psych Unit 7 - Motivation & Emotion

Needs

biological and emotional necessities that when lacking, activates a stress motive/response which causes a change in behavior

Motivation

emotional, cognitive, and psychological impulses that stimulate a person to behave in ways to accomplish a goal

• the result of unfulfilled needs

• the cause of behavioral action

Drives

actions and behaviors caused by motivational impulses

Drive Reduction Theory of Motivation

• motivation is viewed as unpleasant stress and tension in response to unfulfilled needs

• tension becomes the impetus of behavior

• drives replenish needs to homeostatic balance

Achievement Motivation

basic human impulses that drive individuals to obtain goals; prior success is serves as motivation for future accomplishment

Extrinsic Incentives

external rewards

Intrinsic Incentive

internal rewards

Overjustification Effect

the paradoxical phenomenon in which overcompensating otherwise desirable (intrinsically fun) behavior can actually lower its interest

Goal setting

• clearly defined

• establish a methodical, step-by-step plan

• keep a record of progress

• create smaller and more obtainable steps that are achievable

Need of Autonomy

• having control over oneself and ones environment

• ability to make independent decisions / choices

Need of Legacy

• remembrance beyond ones own lifetime

• eternalizing your own life so that your existence can be remembered after your death

• Ex. starting a family

Need of Affiliation

• psychological need to join with others and form a group

• social interaction

• belonging / fitting in

Stanley Schacter

• studied the Psychology of Affiliation

• Companionship is positively correlated to emotional stress and anxiety

Cognitive Consistency

• the psychological need to maintain a stable, emotional balance

• consistencies between ones inner personality and their outward behaviors and attitudes

• imbalances / conflicts between thoughts and behavior lead to cognitive dissonance

Cognitive Dissonance

feelings of uncomfortable emotional stress resulting from inconsistencies / contradictions between ones thoughts and conflicting actions; leads one to attempt to rationalize and justify illogical actions; guilt motivates a change of behavior

Sensation

bio-cognitive process of gathering environmental stimuli & avoiding monotony

Stimulus Arousal Theory

basic need to seek stimulation for amusement and exploration; lack of sensory stimulation creates boredom

Yerkes-Dodson Law

• Individual task performance will increase with psychological or emotional arousal

• if/when stress elevates too high, individual performance will decrease

• optimal range of arousal (not too much, not too little)

Sensory Deprivation

the absence of sensory stimulation resulting from being confined in an environment in which it is unattainable to absorb & process sensory images

McGill University Study

• CIA funded study in Canada

• Volunteers were placed in small boxes which allowed no sensory stimulation

• People could ring a bell if they wanted out

Results of McGill University Study

• 1/3 of participants quit by the end of the first day

  • symptoms of cognitive disorientation, time distortion

• 2/3 quit by the end of the 3rd day

  • symptoms of rambled speech, lack of focus, amplified sensation

• 5th day, only 3 participants remained

  • symptoms of hallucinations, delusion, psychosis

Socio-cultural mechanisms of hunger

eating as a focal point of social situations

Emotional Mechanisms of Hunger

• Food / eating serves as a stress reliever

• Provides emotional comfort (stress, boredom, etc.)

• Foods high in starches & sugars promote the release

Sensation & Perception of Hunger

sight, smell, & taste accentuate hunger response; olfaction doesn’t stimulate hunger

Purpose of the mouth in hunger

• expansion / contraction of jaw muscles elicits saliva

• stimulates release of serotonin

Purpose of the stomach in hunger

• plays a smaller role in hunger than once believed

• pressure receptors respond to the expansion of the stomach lining

Purpose of the GI Tract in hunger

• absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream

• detects glucose-insulin exchange in blood → sends chemical signals to the brain

Biochemical process of hunger

1. hunger chemicals regulated by serotonin

2. low glucose levels trigger the release of orexin

   • initiates hunger response

3. food consumption controles glucose by secreting insulin into bloodstream

4. increased insulin levels trigger obestatin in the brain → hunger stops

Orexin

• triggered by low glucose levels

• initiates hunger response

Obestatin

• triggered by increased insulin levels

• stops hunger response

Lateral Hypothalamus

responsive to orexin & initiates the physical hunger response

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

responsive to obestatin & initiates satiety

Set point

the body’s natural “thermostat” for maintaining hunger / weight balance

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

the rate of energy expenditure while at a state of rest

• regulates metabolism based upon food availability / scarcity

• primitive biological protective mechanism to prevent starvation

• determined by genetics & early feeding habits

Feeding / Eating Disorders

• have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric conditions

• women (35-45) compose the most rapidly diagnosed

• males are increasing at an alarming rate

Comorbidity

the simultaneous existence of two mental health problems; can exacerbate symptoms’ severity (ex. OCD & body dysmorphia)

Biological explanation for EDs

biochemical, genetic, anatomical abnormalities

Cognitive explanation for EDs

misperception with body image → distorted mental processing

Psychodynamic explanation for EDs

unconscious “ glitch” with adolescent metamorphosis from child to adult

Humanistic explanation for EDs

emotional vulnerability & inadequacies; control mechanisms

Socio-cultural explanation for EDs

cultural conformity & peer influence; “barbie doll image”

Anorexia Nervosa

• severe obsession with weight loss

• phobic anxiety of weight gain

• distorted perception of body image (body dysmorphia)

• Behavioral Criteria

  • self-imposed starving, purging

• Chief Diagnostic Symptom

  • BMI below 15% of normal, healthy weight

Bulimia Nervosa

• lack of self control & guilt with overconsumption of food

• Behavioral Criteria

  • cycles of binge eating and purging

  • purging as a guilt reflex to prevent excessive weight gain

• Chief Diagnostic Symptom

  • average / above average BMI

Purging Methods

• self-induced vomiting

• misusing laxative & diuretics

• abusing thermogenics & weight loss pills

• excessive & compulsive exercise

Partial Symptom Orthorexia

obsessive commitment to healthy eating / dieting without purging

Orthorexia Nervosa

• limited normal food intake (not starving)

• purging behaviors cause below normal BMI

Binge Eating Disorder

• behavioral addiction / obsession with food

• Behavioral Criteria

  • cyclical binge eating episodes

• Chief Diagnostic Symptom

  • obesity / morbid obesity

ARFID

• intentional restriction / avoidance of food

• avoidance of taste and texture of food

• anxiety that eating may cause illness

• Behavioral Criteria

  • weight loss / malnourishment but without an unhealthy preoccupation with size and form of body (no purging behavior)

Rumination Disorder

• automatic regurgitation of undigested food shortly after eating

• similar to the belching reflex but with undigested food

• food often rechewed / swallowed

• Behavioral Criteria

  • common in children

  • not diagnosed with other medical / digestive system conditions

PICA

• persistent eating of non-nutritive substances / objects

• Behavioral Criteria

  • apetite is inappropriate for age with no developmental abnormality

• common objects

  • soil, clay, ashes, chalk, soap, paper, cotton balls

  • skin, blood, scabs, hair, mucus, feces, urine

Instinct Theory of Motivation

• biological theory

• fixed action patterns → genetic transmissions of innate behavior

• behavioral patterns that are bio-cognitive, not learned by nurture

• motivation for primal actions & behavioral reflexes

Socio-cultural Theory of Motivation

• human behavior is a reflection of one’s culture

• behaviors are learned responses to social environments

• cultural norms / values dictate appropriate standards of behaviors & individuals are naturally motivated to conform to social routine

Humanistic theory of Motivation

• people are motivated by conscious desire for personal growth & fulfillment needs

• achievement of goals & self-accomplishment

• fulfillment of essential needs

Abraham Maslow

• founder of humanistic point of view

• he said that human behavior is motivated to achieve meaningful significance

• hierarchy of needs

Hierarchy of Needs

5. physiological needs → bio necessities for life

4. safety → protection, shelter, financial security

3. love & belonging → companionship

2. esteem → recognition / status

1. self actualization → fulfillment of one’s potential; awareness & acceptance of reality of one’s self

3 Elements of Emotion

1. physiological elements

2. cognitive elements

3. behavioral elements

Physiological Elements of Emotion

• nervous system reactions to environmental stimuli

• biochemical transmissions (serotonin / dopamine)

• amygdala (survival emotions)

• frontal lobe (mood emotions)

• accumbens nucleus (pleasure / reward)

Cognitive Elements of Emotion

• consciously learning from situational experiences / previous states of emotion

• learning how to control / self-regulate emotions

• emotional intelligence

Behavioral Elements of Emotion

• actions based upon emotional states

• expressing / displaying emotion

• facial expressions & universal displays of emotion

Paul Ekman

• established a universal taxonomy standardizing human facial expressions

• Facial Action Coding System (FACS)

Biological Explanation of emotion

• emotions are psychosomatic sensations activated by nervous system responses

• stimulates the release of hormones and other biochemicals

• biochemistry activates the anatomical functions of the frontal lobe / amygdala

James-Lange Theory

• emotions are products of responses to physiological reactions to events / stimuli

• emotions operate sequentially

  • 1) event → 2) physical symptoms → 3) emotional symptoms

Cannon-Bard Theory

• symptoms of physiological arousal & emotional sensations respond simultaneously to stimuli

• event → physical symptoms & emotional symptoms

Schacter-Singer Two Factor Theory

• Emotion is based on

  1. physiological arousal of nervous system

  2. cognitive appraisal

Cognitive Appraisal

conscious understanding / interpretation of events

Schacter’s Experiments of Cognitive Appraisal

• 184 participants were deceived to believe they were volunteers in an experimental treatment to “cure” poor eyesight

• control group – injected with saline placebo

• Test Group A – injected adrenaline and told of its effects

• Test Group B – injected adrenaline but uninformed of the effects

• participants were placed in a waiting room with a confederate who was instructed to act act

• Results

  • participants uninformed mirrored the confederate

  • participants informed were able to cognitively appraise themselves and control their behavior

  • awareness of one’s emotions = better control of one’s emotions

Instinct

a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species (unlearned)

Homeostasis

a tendency to maintain a balanced / constant internal state

Incentive

a positive / negative environment stimuli that motivates behavior

Self Determination Theory

the theory that we feel motivated to satisfy our needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness

Ostracism

deliberate social exclusion of individuals or a group

Glucose

the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major sources of energy for body tissue

Psychological disorders

a disturbance in people’s thoughts, emotions, or behavior that causes distress or suffering and impairs with daily life

Medical Model

the concept that diseases have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and in most cases, cured

Diathesis-stress Model

the concept that genetic predispositions combine with environmental stressors to influence psychological disorders

Epigenics

the study of the molecular mechanisms by which can influence genetic expression

Polygraph

a machine used in attempts to detect lies; measures emotion-linked changes in perspiration, heart rate, and breathing

Facial Feedback Effect

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

Behavior feedback effect

the tendency of behavior to influence our own & other’s thoughts, feelings, and actions

Health psychology

a subfield of psychology that explores the impact of psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors on health and wellness

Eustress

positive stress

Distress

negative stress

Stress

the emotional, cognitive, and physical responses to an adverse or threatening stimulus

Type A people

competitive, hard-driving, impatient, angry people

Type B people

easy-going, relaxed people

People become motivated when…

…when the goal is their goal

Ghrelin

a hunger-arousing hormone secreted by an empty stomach

Obesity

a body mass index of 30+ which is calculated from our weight-to-height ratio

Tend and Befriend Response

under stress, people may nurture themselves and others and bond with/seek support form others

Coronary Heart Disease

the clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle

Prader-Willi Study

Studies on individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome aim to understand how genetic abnormalities impact appetite regulation and metabolism; the syndrome results in a dysfunction in the hypothalamus, which regulates various bodily functions, including appetite. Individuals with the syndrome never feel satiated

What drives binge eating?

reward, more than metabolic need

Highly palatable foods…

…can mimic opioid drugs by releasing opioids or activating sensitized receptors

Catharsis

various therapeutic mechanisms that provide relief to strong, repressed emotions / stress

Hans Selye

• he found General Adaptation Syndrome

• application of endocrinology & biochemical stress responses

Phase 1 of General Adaptation Syndrome

• Alarm

• initial reactions to a stressor

• Sympathetic Nervous System → freeze, fight, flight

• Epinephrine & cortisol

Phase 2 of General Adaptation Syndrome

• Resistance

• physiological attempt to revert back to homeostatic balances (Parasympathetic Nervous System)

• Norepinephrine sedates the body allowing for time to process the event and evaluate for an appropriate response

Phase 3 of General Adaptation Syndrome

• Exhaustion

• Time period in which the immune system is most depleted, making one most vulnerable to illness, death

General Adaptation Syndrome

describes the process your body goes through when you are exposed to any kind of stress, positive or negative

Diathesis Stress Conditions

physiological disorders (or related symptoms) that develop or increase in severity due to psychological stress

• headaches & migraines

• stomach ulcers

• gastrointestinal issues

• sleep disorders

• heart disease