Psych 111 UMich Schreier: Motivation

motivation

vigor and persistence of goal directed behavior, helps move us towards our goals

evolutionary theory

motivation plays a significant role in adaptation; social need to affiliate, share resources, provide protection, procreation

drives

internal state of tension that propels one to a certain activity/behavior to lesson the feeling

incentives

external goals that promote a a behavior

intrinsic motivation

a motivation to take actions that are themselves rewarding

extrinsic motivation

a motivation to take actions that are not themselves rewarding, but that lead to reward

delay of gratification

the ability to engage in behaviors that are currently unrewarding for greater rewards

homeostasis

tendency for the body (person) to want to maintain a state of constancy

hunger/food

energy is necessary for maintenance and growth

hypothalamus

primary structure of the brain which signals hunger and satisfaction

lateral (near side)

- turns hunger "on"

- stimulation yields increased eating

- a lesion or damage can cause starvation

ventromedial (lower, middle)

- turns hunger "off"

- stimulation stops eating

- lesion or damage can cause voracious eating

biological factors that impact eating behaviors

- genetics influence metabolism

- bodily sensations: growl, distension

- chemical signals to the body (ghrelin stimulates hunger)

- leptin-resistance: some individuals do not respond to the chemical message to "turn hunger off"

- genetic mapping of "obesity genes"

social factors that influence eating behaviors

- environmental influences on eating behaviors

- complex and multiply determined

- eat more in groups

- expectation and memory of meals

- palatability

- social interactions

psychological factors that influence eating behaviors

- thinking about food and what it "means"

- learned food habits/preferences

- memories associated with food

- belief and feelings regarding body image

- cultural variations: robust = higher class

- food as "substitute" for love, sex

childhood obesity has...

...more that tripled in the past 30 years

health related concerns associated with being overweight or obese

- coronary heart disease

- type 2 diabetes

- cancers

- hypertension

- stroke

- sleep apnea and respiratory problems

reasons we overeat

- biochemical abnormalities (leptin-resistant)

- we eat when we are not hungry

- nature designed us to overeat

anorexia

a disorder characterized by an intense fear of being fat and severe restriction of food intake

anorexia facts

- distorted self-perception

- amenorrhea

- peak age 15-19; greater in females

- males also suffer

- 4-6% fatality rate

bulimia nervosa

disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging

sexual response cycle

- excitement

- plateau

- orgasm

- resolution

Hill proposed functions we strive to affiliate

- to obtain positive stimulation in our lives

- to receive emotional support

- to gain attention

- to permit social comparison

need for affiliation

- varies by individual

- increased in fear situations

achievement motivation

what drives us to seek and reach goals; basic human motive to achieve

motivation by success

- (approach motivation)

- thrill at mastery, sense of achievement

motivated by fear of failure

- (avoidance motivation)

- fear of performing badly, increases anxiety

emotion: cognitive

subjective conscious experience, includes an "appraisal" or evaluation of the situation

emotion: physiological

- bodily arousal accompanies feeling states

- fight of flight

polygraph tests

records autonomic fluctuations

emotion: behavioral

- characteristic overt expression of emotion

- body language and facial expression

- six basic emotions generally able to identify

- happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust

facial feedback hypothesis proponents

belief that facial expressions themselves can control emotion

display rules

norms that regulate the appropriate expression of emotions, culturally determined

James-Lange theory of emotion

conscious experience of emotion results from perception of arousal

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

cognitive interpretations of a situation and response occur at approximately he same time

Schachter's two-factor theory

people use two factors to identify emotion; physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation; search the environment for an explanation for reactions; look for external cues to help label emotions

terror management theory

- explores our need to use self-esteem as a buffer against anxiety over our mortality

- research has found that when "reminded" about one's mortality:

+ subjects give harsher penalties to rule breakers

+ give greater rewards to those upholding cultural standards

+ respond more negatively to those critical of their country

+ show more respect for cultural icons and value their spouses