Unit 7 - Psychological factors of motivation, hunger, sexual motivation, emotions

Physiological Factors of Motivation (hunger ex.)

Observable and measurable through brain scans

Motivated internally (biologically) and externally (psych, social, cultural)

Hypothalamus in hunger

Gas pedal for desires and urges

Prefrontal cortex is brakes and steering

(hunger) Pituitary gland

controlled by hypothalamus

(hunger) Metabolism

controlled by thyroid gland

(hunger) Basal metabolic rate

how much energy someone uses in inactive state

(hunger) glucose (and fats)

bodies main fuel

absorbed into bloodstream for energy/stored energy

(hunger) Blood sugar lowers

Insulin rises

(hunger) Leptin

“I am full”

“lean”

(hunger) Ghrelin

“I am hungry”

stomach “growls”

Eating disorders

Extreme eating behaviours that cause an individual significant distress or worsening physical health

Set-point theory

Genetically programmed for a certain body weight

When met, brain is satisfied to have met genetic instructions

Does not account for obesity

Obesity

Excessively overweight

Psychosocial, emotional, environmental and genetic

Anorexia nervosa

Intense fear of weight gain

Distorted body image

Primarily impacts girls and young women

Bulimia nervosa

Recurrent binge eating

Several tactics to avoid weight gain (diuretics, meds, laxatives, excessive exercise, fasting, vomiting)

Physiological Factors of Sexual Motivation

External motivations influence sexual behaviour

Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland

Androgens and Testosterone

strongly linked to sexual desire (Male hormones, impact females too)

Estrogen

Increased female sexual desire

Progesterone

Reduces sexual desire in women

Emotions

expressive states that interconnect with physiological, mental, and behavioural systems and can be +/-

Primary Emotions (Robert Plutchik)

Intensity based spectrum

Fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, anticipation, joy, trust

Physiological Theory of Emotion

Limbic system regulates emotion

Amygdala stores emotional experiences

When under stress, sympathetic nervous system activates emotions, raising arousal

Cognitive Theory of Emotion

Emotions lead to powerful thoughts through interpretation of meaning

Behavioural Theory of Emotion

Emotions cause adaptation of behaviour, for self-survival and growth

James-Lange Theory (Physical arousal first)

Event—>Physical Arousal  Cognitive Interpretation—>Emotion

Cannon-Bard Theory (Physical Arousal and Emotions are Simultaneous)

           —>Physical Arousal

Event

           —> Emotion

Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory (Physical Arousal and based on Thinking)

Event—>Physical Arousal + Cognitive Label—> Emotion

James-Lange Theory

Arousal event causes physiological reaction, which then causes emotion

Rather than crying because sad, sad because crying

Cannon-Bard Theory

Physical arousal and emotions occur simultaneously 

Reaction and feeling at the same time

Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory

Physical arousal is interpreted as fear-inducing or exciting

When arousal occurs, feelings must be interpreted

Cognitive labels on environmental stimulus (from previous experience) result in emotion, not the stimulus itself

Cognitive Appraisal Theory

Cognitive interpretation is based on impact of event

Added on to Schachter-Singer that emotions come from cognitive appraisal, or belief of how event will impact the individual

Cross-Cultural Displays of Emotion

Emotions are similar in everyone, but social standards for display (display rules) of emotions vary