ch. 10: motivation

motivation

is the wants & needs that direct our behavior towards some goal

intrinsic motivation

is desire to perform a behavior for its own sake

• reflects autonomy, mastery, & purpose

extrinsic motivation

desire to perform a behavior in order to obtain an external reward such as praise, grades, or $

• may also involve punishment

• does not always work, why?

  • not motivated/interested

  • under immense amount of pressure

  • if reward is not large enough for you

  • too much work for the prize

  • over justification theory

  • cognitive evaluation theory

over justification theory

extrinsic motivation decreases intrinsic motivation when a person attributes her/his performance to the extrinsic reward

cognitive evaluation theory

a reward perceived as an attempt to control a persons behavior will decrease his/her intrinsic motivation to perform that activity

4 select theories abt motivation

1. instinct

2. drive reduction

3. arousal motive

4. self efficacy

instinct theory

• created by william james, father of psych in america

• a complex, inherited specific behavior pattern

• he believed the more complex the organism, the less instincts are involved

drive reduction theory

• suggests that behavior is motivated by the need to reduce drives such as sex & hunger

• a need caused by physiological deprivation (lack of water for ex) induces a state of tension called a drive

• aims at homeostasis, a steady state of physiological equilibrium

arousal motive theory

• refers to motive to maintain an optimal level of physiological activation & it is often considered an extension drive theory

• 2 key researchers: yerkes & dodson who coined the term, yerkes-dodson law

self efficacy theory

• is an individual belief in his/her own capability to complete a task, which may include a previous successful completion or a sumilar task

• extremely important

social motives

1. achievement: drives accomplishment & performance

2. affiliation: encourages positive interactions w others

3. intimacy: causes us to seek deep, meaningful relationships

achievement motivation

• is the desire for mastery, excellence, & accomplishment

• ex: earn a degree

• can be measured via Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

  • can show if a child has high, medium, or low achievement motives

• can depend on incentive value (rewards) & expectancy (probability of success)

need for affiliation

• encourages positive interactions w others

• these range from frienships to fam

need for intimacy

• causes us to seek deep, meaningful relationships

• range from friendships to marriage