Chapter 8 Psychology 101

Motivation 

All the process that activate, direct, and sustain goal-directed behavior

Biological sources of motivation

Instincts, Needs and drives, Stimulus motivates and optimal level of arousal

Psychological sources of motivation

Incentives, Psychosocial needs

Instinct theory of motivation

The theory that out behavior is motivated by instincts and is supported by Freud and James McDougall. List created with more than 10,000 instincts covering the behavior. The problem though is that it does not explain what the instinct is, just simply describes it. Humans are far too complex to have our behavior be watered down to a simple set of instincts. 

Drive theory of motivation

The theory that unmet biological needs create internal states of tension, a drive, that motivates efforts to satisfy or reduce them. 

Arousal theory of motivation

Whenever the level of stimulation dips below your optimal level of arousal (state of alertness), you will seek ways to increase it 

Incentive Theory of motivation

External rewards “pull” us to act in ways to earn those rewards. 

Intrinsic motivation

Motivation reflecting a desire for internal gratification - such as the self-gratification derives from accomplishing a goal.

Extrinsic motivation 

Motivation reflecting a desire for external rewards, such as wealth or the respect of others. 

Hierarchy of Needs

Self-Actualization, Esteem, Love and Belongingness, Safety, Physiological

Obesity 

Genetic, psychological, and environmental factors, including differences in metabolic rates, number of fat cells in the body, behavior patterns (unhealthy, diet and lack of exercise), and emotional and environmental cures that prompt overeating. 

Anorexia Nervosa

Self starvation resulting in an unhealthy and potentially dangerously low body weight. Characterized with an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming overweight, as well as a distorted image of body.

It can lead to issues like; Cardiovascular problems, gastrointestinal problems, loss of menstruation, death by suicide or medical complications 

Bulimia Nervosa

A repetitive pattern of binge eating followed by purging. Purging involves self-induced vomiting, or excessive use of laxatives. It’s characterized with; Binge eating, purging/vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise to control the weight, typically maintain a normal weight, usually begins in late adolescence.

It can lead to issues like; Potassium deficiencies, Esophageal damage, Decay of tooth enamel, GI and Cardiovascular disorders. 

Hunger and Appetite 

The hypothalamus detects low blood sugar levels and depletion of fat in fat calls, leading to feelings of hunger that motivates eating. Hormones and Neurotransmitters work on the hypothalamus to influence appetite and eating behavior. 

Sexual desire and arousal : Phases of the human sexual response cycle

MASTERS AND JOHNSON

Excitement 

Erection in males; swelling of clitoris and vaginal lubrication in females

Plateau 

Increase in muscles tension and blood flow to the genitals.

Orgasm 

Sudden discharge of accumulated sexual tension 

Resolution 

Body returns to an unaroused state

Sexual orientation

The direction of sexual attraction to one’s own gender, to the opposite gender, or both/all.

Sexual response cycle

The characteristic pattern of bodily responses to sexual stimulation

Sexual behavior

Includes masturbation, sexual intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex

Sexual dysfunctions

Persistent problems with sexual interest, arousal, or responses  

Basic emotions - Fear, Anger, Disgust, Surprise, Happiness, Sadness 

Unlearned and universal, reflected in the same facial expressions across cultures, emerge in children according to their biological timetable of development 

Display rules

Cultural rules that dictate how emotions should generally be expressed and when and where their expression is appropriate. Each culture has very different display rules.

Amygdala

“Emotional Computer” that controls the fear response, which leads to behaviors associated with fear, such as freezing in place, or fight or flight response, which is a part of the Sympathetic nervous system

Sympathetic nervous system

Fight or flight responses are a part of what?

Hippocampus

The process of information related to the context in which fear has been experienced.

Cerebral cortex 

Evaluates the meaning of the stimuli, plans, directs how to respond 

Concepts of emotion theorists

James-Lange theory, Cannon-Bard theory, Two-factor model of emotions, LeDoux’s dual-pathway model of fear, Emotional intelligence, and Polygraph

James-Lange theory of emotion 

Emotions follow our bodily reactions to triggering stimuli, we become afraid because we run, we feel sad because we cry. 

Example

1. See a deer in the road

2. Heart pounds and hands tremble

3. Experience fear

Cannon-Bard theory of emotions 

Emotions accompany bodily responses to triggering stimuli but are not caused by them 

Example

1. See deer in the road

2. Experience heart pounding, hand trembling, and emotion of fear simultaneously

Two-factor model of emotions

The combination of physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal (labeling) of the source of the arousal produces the emotional state.

Example

1. See a deer on the road

2. Factor one (physiological arousal): heart pounding and hands tremble

3. Factor two (Cognitive labeling of arousal): “I must really be terrified.”

Le-Doux’s dual-pathway model of fear 

One pathway leads from the thalamus to the amygdala, which produces the initial fear response (bodily arousal), whole a second pathway leads to the cortex, which further processes the fear stimulus and produces the conscious awareness of fear. 

Example

1. See deer in road

2. Visual sensory information processed by thalamic-amygdala (“Low road”) pathway, allowing for quick emotional response (heart pounding, trembling, muscles tightening)

3. Sensory Information passes through the “high-road” leading to sensory cortex for further processing (“my goodness, watch out!”)

Emotional intelligence (concepts of emotions)

According to this concept, the ability to manage emotions effectively is a form of intelligent behavior

Polygraph

A device used to detect lying based on analysis of differences in physiological responses to control questions and test questions 

The Five components of Emotional Intelligence 

1. Knowing your own emotions/self awareness 

2. Managing your own emotions 

3. Motivating yourself, by approaching challenges with enthusiasm, confidence, and delaying gratification and impulses to pursue long-term goals 

4. Recognizing emotions in others/having a sense of empathy 

5. Helping others handle their emotions 

Empathy 

The ability to intimately feel and see another's suffering, not just through understanding what they are going through but by being able to put themselves in another's shoes.

Primary drives

Biological needs like hunger and thirst.

Secondary drives

Learned by conditioning needs like money

Factors that cause eating disorders 

Social pressure on women to achieve an unrealistic standard of thinness, Social media (comparing ourselves to others), with men its the pressure to maintain weight in a very narrow range due to demanding sport requirement, negative emotions/perfectionism, biological factors hypothalamic disorders or irregularities in serotonin activity