Psych 1001 chapter 10

Midterm 1

Motivation

An internal state or condition that energizes and directs behavior towards a desired goal

Motive

A need or desire

5 major theories (perspective)

Instinct theory, drive-reduction theory, arousal theory, incentive theory, maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Instinct theory

All behaviors are driven by instincts, inherited behavioral blueprints

• Ex. Reflexes in children, social bonding

Drive-reduction theory

Tendency to maintain a steady or balanced internal state

• Body temperatures, energy levels, water levels

• Ex. Starvation in hunger drive

(Optimal) Arousal theory

Instinct and drive-reduction theory don’t explain why we sometimes arousal

• Behavior is motivated by a desire to maintain an optimal level of arousal

Yerkes-Dodson law

Performance on a task varies as a function of arousal level. Different tasks requires different arousal levels, simple tasks requires more arousal, complex tasks less

Incentive theory

Emphasizes the “pull” of incentives, external factors that are rewarding (liking) such as money, recognition, praise, chocolate, addictive drugs.

Primary incentive examples

Inherently rewarding, ex. chocolate

Secondary incentives example

Are associated with primary incentives, money

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Humanistic psychologist

• We (humans) have multiple needs (sometimes competing).

• Needs vary in priority "Hierarchy of needs".

• Lower needs must be met before higher ones.

 

Physiological needs

Needs relating to physical survival (food, water)

Safety needs

The need to feel safe and secure (shelter)

Love and belonging needs

The need to have close relationships and others

Esteem needs

The need to feel good about oneself

Self-actualization needs

The need to become all that one is capable of becoming

Stomach signals

Contractions of the stomach match feeling of hunger

Ghrelin

Released when stomach empty; travels via blood to brain (stimulates food intake)

Satiety signals

 “Stretch” receptors in stomach are activated when food enters and expands stomach

Blood glucose levels

Neurons in the hypothalamus sense blood sugar change

• If low, triggers hunger, if high signals satiety (full)

Lipids

From fat

• If high produce satiety

Amino acids

From protein

• If high produce satiety

Leptin

Released from fat cells

• High levels signal satiety

• Others are PYY, GPL I, CCK

Lateral Hypothalamus

Responds to hunger signals (ex. ghrelin) and promotes eating behavior when stimulated

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

Responds to satiety signals (ex. glucose, leptin) and inhibits eating behavior

Classical dual-centre theory of motivation

Activity in one area inhibits the area that serves the opposite function

Nucleus of the solitary tract

Receives signals from facial (taste) and vagus nerves, projects to hypothalamus

Insular cortex

In frontal lobe important for disgust

Body set point

Individuals seem to maintain a fairly stable body weight

Psychological factors

• Memory effects - awareness of last meal.

• Taste effects (novelty, learned preferences, sensory specific satiety.

• Arousal levels (adjunctive behavior when bored)

• Stress and mood levels

• Body image

 

Social/cultural factors

• Presence of others (social facilitation): Being polite, less restraint.

• Societal trends in eating ("portion" sizes).

• Cultural norms for ideal body image.

 

Obesity

A condition of extreme over-weight, specifically a body mass index (BMI) over 30 (based on weight to height ratio); overweight is BMI>25

Anorexia nervosa

 Preoccupied with being or becoming overweight, disported body image, dangerous and extreme weight loss.

Bulima nervosa

Usually underweight, characterized binging followed purging, more common than anorexia.

Affiliation need

 Involves need to build and maintain relationships and to feel connected to a group

 

Self-determination theory

Feel motivated to satisfy our needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness.

Social behavior

Often aims to increase feelings of belonging and heighten self-esteem; strengthens social bonds

The net result

Does electronic communication stimulate healthy self-disclosure

Achievement motivation

Desire for significant accomplishment; mastery of skills or areas; for control; and for attaining a high standard

Emotions

Conscious internal state or experiences which occur in response to biologically significant stimuli (life-threatening or promoting)

Emotions three components

Physiological arousal, cognitive component, behavioral component

James-Lange theory

Arousal comes before emotion

• Experience of emotion involves awareness of physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli.

Cannon-Bard theory

Arousal and emotion happen at the same time

• Emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers (1) physiological responses (2) subjective experience of motion.

• Human body responses run parallel to cognitive responses rather than causing them.

Schachter-Singer Two-factor theory

Arousal + Label = emotion

• To experience, emotion one must be (1) physically aroused (2) cognitively label the arousal.

 

Not so fast

Some feelings (fear) appear may not require cognitive appraisal

Zajonc

Emotions often happen without thinking

Priming (subliminal) studies

Flash emotional words or images briefly, result in emotional changes (without conscious awareness)

Joseph Ledoux

Two paths in the brain (process emotional stimuli)

High-road to conscious cortex

Slow, but explains when cognition precedes feelings, like Schachter-singer.

Low-road to unconscious amygdala

 Quicker, by-passes cortex, emotion detector without cortex awareness

Facial feedback theory

May extend to other muscles when behaviors are expressed, like posture.

Evolutionary theory

• Emotions are innate, each serving a particular survival function.

• Carol Izard suggest ten basic emotions: joy, interest-excitement, surprise, sadness, anger, disgust, contempt, fear, shame, and guilt.

Positivity psychology

The study of positive characteristics, and their contribution to psychological and physical well-being

1. Emotions (happiness).

2. Traits (perseverance and wisdom).

3. Abilities (interpersonal skill, virtues).

Happiness

One of the most important human emotions