Psych- Theories of motivation and emotion

Motivation

a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior

drive-reduction theory

the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need

Homeostasis

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

arousal theory

A theory of motivation suggesting that people are motivated to maintain an optimal level of alertness and physical and mental activation.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

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

self-determination theory

a theory of motivation that is concerned with the beneficial effects of intrinsic motivation and the harmful effects of extrinsic motivation

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

overjustification effect

The effect of promising a reward for doing what one already likes to do. The person may now see the reward, rather than intrinsic interest, as the motivation for performing the task.

extrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment

incentive

a positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior

instinct

a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned

Lewin's Motivational Conflicts Theory

Describes various types of conflict involved in the decision making process. (i.e. approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, approach-avoidance.)

approach-approach conflict

Conflict that results from having to choose between two attractive alternatives

approach-avoidance conflict

conflict occurring when a person must choose or not choose a goal that has both positive and negative aspects

avoidance-avoidance conflict

conflict occurring when a person must choose between two undesirable goals

Sensation-Seeking Theory

A theory that proposes that one's level of need for varied or novel experiences is the basis of motivation

experience seeking

the tendency to seek novel experiences through the mind and the senses

thrill or adventure seeking

According to sensation-seeking theory,unusual or risky physical activity

boredom susceptibility

a dislike of repetition, predictability and monotony

Ghrelin

hormone secreted by empty stomach; sends "I'm hungry" signals to the brain

Leptin

hormone that signals the hypothalamus and brain stem to reduce appetite and increase the amount of energy used

lateral hypothalamus

The part of the hypothalamus that produces hunger signals

ventromedial hypothalamus

The part of the hypothalamus that produces feelings of fullness as opposed to hunger, and causes one to stop eating.

External Factors that impact hunger

presence of food, time of day, social gatherings around meals

emotion

a response of the whole organism, involving (1) physiological arousal, (2) expressive behaviors, and (3) conscious experience

arousal

Physiological/psychological tension

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

James-Lange Theory

the theory that our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli

Cannon-Bard Theory

the theory that an emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers (1) physiological responses and (2) the subjective experience of emotion

Schacter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion

physical arousal paired with a cognitive label-i.e., my heart is beating, my palms are sweating-it must be love!

cognitive appraisal

the interpretation of an event that helps determine its stress/emotional impact

broaden and build theory

the proposition that positive emotions expand an individual's attention and mind-set, while negative narrows

Emotional Expression

an observable sign of an emotional state

basic emotions

anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise

Universal Expressions of Emotion

Specific facial muscle contractions correspond to primary emotions across the world

display rules

cross-cultural guidelines for how and when to express emotions

emotional elicitors

events that stimulate emotion in the human brain

feel-good, do-good phenomenon

people's tendency to be helpful when already in a good mood

facial feedback hypothesis

the idea that facial expressions can influence emotions as well as reflect them