MCAT Behavioral Sciences Review

What is the instinct theory of motivation?

William James and William McDougall claimed that our motivation stems from innate instincts. Some of these instincts conflict with each other and some an be overridden by experience.

What is the arousal theory of motivation?

The arousal theory of motivation claims that we have an optimal level of arousal, and that we try to increase our arousal when it is below an optimal level, and to decrease it when it is too high.

What is the drive reduction theory of motivation?

Drive reduction theory states that our motivation comes from trying to eliminate discomfort. Primary drives come from biological needs, like hunger, and they aim to bring the body back to homeostasis. secondary drives are thought to stem from learning, and they can also include various emotions.

What is the need-based theory of motivation?

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

What is the James-Lange Theory of emotion?

A stimulus causes nervous system arousal and that leads to an emotion being labeled.

What is the Cannon-Bard Theory of emotion?

The Cannon-Bard theory states that nervous system arousal and conscious emotion occur at the same time right after a stimulus is presented. After that, the person takes action in response to the emotion.

What is the Schachter-Singer Theory of emotion?

This theory states that nervous system arousal and cognitive appraisal of the situation around the person and why their body is reacting in a certain way have to happen before conscious emotion.

What is explicit memory vs implicit memory?

Explicit memory is the memory of an event and knowledge that the event was happy, sad, traumatic, etc. Implicit memory is the memory of your emotions. for instance, in a PTSD soldier, he may remember the day his best friend was shot and that he was extremely upset that day (explicit memory) but his feeling of anxiety when hearing gunshots is implicit memory.

What are the two stages of stress appraisal?

1- Primary appraisal is the evaluation of the environment and determining whether there is a threat (is it irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful?).

2- If there is a threat, Secondary appraisal begins. This evaluates the harm, threat, and challenge. People who believe they can overcome a threat are less likely to feel severe stress.