Unit 7: Motivation & Emotion

Motivation

anything that initiates or guides actions

Instinct-theory

the body follows a set of biological pre-programmed instinctual urges

drive-reduction theory

When our bodies are out of homeostasis, it creates a state of tension that we are motivated to reduce; ex: you're hungry so you eat

arousal theory (Yerkes Dodson Theory)

people are driven to perform actions in order to maintain an optimum level of physiological arousal; the right amount of stress = postitive performance

incentive theory

Positive or negative environmental stimuli motivate behavior; reinforcements or punishments motivate behavior

Self determination theory

a theory of motivation that is concerned with the effects of intrinsic motivation and the effects of extrinsic motivation

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for your own sake and satisfaction

extrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior to receive rewards or avoid punishment

sensation seeking theory

Motivated by the desire for varied, complex, & stimulating experiences

experience seeking

desire for new sensations & experiences

thrill/adventure seeking

strong desire for intense & exciting experiences

disinhibition

seeking to escape from societal norms, constraints, or inhibitions

boredom susceptibility

experience dissatisfaction or restlessness when not engaged in stimulating activities

conflict motivation (Kurt Lewin)

when an individual is simultaneously pulled in different directions by two or more competing options

approach-approach conflict

occurs when you must choose between two desirable outcomes

avoidance-avoidance conflict

occurs when you must choose between two unattractive outcomes

approach-avoidance conflict

exists when ONE event or goal has both attractive and unattractive features

Ghrelin

hormone secreted by empty stomach; sends "I'm hungry" signals to the brain

Leptin

hormone from fat cells that signals the hypothalamus and brain stem to reduce appetite and increase the amount of energy used; makes you feel full

Hypothalamus

part of the brain that regulates hunger

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder in which an irrational fear of weight gain leads people to starve themselves and have a low weight

bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging (throwing up)

external hunger cues

factors that encourage us to eat like time of day, smell of food, or seeing other people eating; not a natural response like stomach growling

James-Lange Theory

we label an emotion based on our physiological (physical) reaction; you jump then decide you're scared because you jumped

Cannon-Bard theory

theory that emotion and physiological reactions occur simultaneously; you shake and feel scared at the same time

Shachter-Singer two-factor theory

to experience emotion one must 1) be physically aroused and 2) cognitively label the arousal; our physiological reaction occurs while we create a cognitive label from the environment

cognitive label

the mental interpretation or explanation we assign to a physiological arousal (physical reaction)

facial feedback hypothesis

emotional expressions can cause the emotional experiences they signify

Broaden-and-Build Theory of Emotion

a positive psychology theory that suggests that positive emotions can help people build skills and resources over time