motivation and emotion psychology

Instinct

A complex, unlearned behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species.

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 around a particular level.

Incentives

A positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Pyramid of human needs, beginning at the base with physiological needs that must first be satisfied before higher-level safety and psychological needs become active.

Optimal Arousal Theory

The theory that some motivated behaviors actually increase arousal; humans seek an optimum level of excitement or arousal.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

The principle that performance increases with arousal only up to a point, beyond which performance decreases (the inverted U).

Need to belong

The motivation to form and maintain enduring, close personal relationships; a central human motivation.

Self-determination theory

Theory that we feel motivated when our actions fulfill three basic needs

Intrinsically motivated

The desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake.

Extrinsically motivated

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

Insecure anxious attachment

Constantly craving acceptance but remaining vigilant to signs of possible rejection.

Insecure avoidant attachment

Feeling such discomfort over getting close to others that one employs avoidant strategies to maintain distance.

Ostracism

Deliberate social exclusion of individuals or groups.

Social networking

The use of dedicated websites and applications to interact with other users; impacts our connection and self-disclosure.

Achievement motivation

A desire for significant accomplishment, for mastery of skills or ideas, for control, and for attaining a high standard.

Grit

In psychology, passion and perseverance in the pursuit of long-term goals.

James-Lange Theory

The theory that our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli (arousal comes before emotion).

Cannon-Bard Theory

The theory that an emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers physiological responses and the subjective experience of emotion.

Schachter's two-factor theory

The theory that to experience emotion one must be physically aroused and cognitively label the arousal.

Influence of the Amygdala

Research by ZajoncLeDoux suggesting some emotional responses happen instantly, without conscious appraisal (the "low road").

Lazarus

Contended that brain processes vast amounts of information without conscious awareness, but some appraisal (even if unconscious) still defines emotion.

Polygraph

A machine used to detect lies by measuring several physiological responses (such as perspiration and cardiovascular changes) accompanying emotion.

6 primary emotions

Identified by Ekman as universal facial expressions

Facial feedback effect

The tendency of facial muscle states to trigger corresponding feelings such as fear, anger, or happiness.

Behavior feedback

The tendency of behavior to influence our own and others' thoughts, feelings, and actions.