psyc100b chp 11

Instinct

a complex behaviour that is unlearned and follows a fixd pattern across a species

Instinct theory

early 1900s view that instincts drive our motivations

Limitation

most human behaviour is shaped by both physical needs and psychological wants

Evolutionary psychology

genes predispose some behaviour shared across a species

Drive

a need pushes us to reduce it

Drive-reduction theory

bigger need, stronger drive

Homeostasis

keeping a steady internal state

Incentives

environmental pulls toward or away from something

Sensation-seekers

some people seek high arousal through intense music, novel foods, and risk

Optimal arousal

we seek the right level of stimulation, avoiding boredom and overload

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

we prioritize survival-based needs and then social needs more than the needs for esteem and meaning

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs order

Physiological, safety, social, esteem, self-actualization

Three basic psychological needs

Autonomy, competence, relatedness

Autonomy

feeling that our actions are our own and reflect our values

Competence

feeling capable and effective

Relatedness

feeling connected to and cared for by others

Intrinsic motivation

doing something because it is enjoyable or interesting

Extrinsic motivation

doing something to gain a reward or avoid punishment

Internalization

extrinsic reasons can become our own over time

Self-determination theory across cultures

culture shapes expression and can be felt differently across cultures

Basal metabolic rate (BMR)

the body’s resting rate of energy expenditure; drops when food is restricted

Ghrelin

hormone released by an empty stomach that signals hunger

Leptin

hormone released by fat cells that signals fullness

Hypothalamus

brain region that reads these signals and regulates appetite

Stress eating

tension and low mood can increase cravings for high-calorie foods; carbohydrates boost serotonin

Emotions with lower glucose

less self control, more anger

Taste preferences biological

preferences for sweet and salty tasts are genetic and universal

Taste preferences conditioned

we learn to like foods we’re exposed to and avoid foods that made us sick

Neophobia

dislike of unfamiliar things, likely adaptive for protecting our ancestors from toxins

Repeated exposure

trying small amounts of a new food increases liking over time

Ecology of eating

situations strongly influence how much and what we eat; eat more with friends, less on a date

Serving size

larger portions lead to eating more

Variety

more food options lead to eating more; this was adaptive for our ancestors

Nudges

small changes to the environment

Biological push

sex hormones (testosterone, estrogens) help drive sexual motivation

Loose influence in humans

unlike most animals, human sexual behaviour isn’t tightly tied to hormone levels

Fuel analogy

hormones are necessary but beyond a basic level, more doesn’t increase desire

Three needs in relationships

partners who support each other’s autonomy, competence, and relatedness

Achievement motivation

a desire for significant accomplisment and mastery

Discipline beats talent

self-discipline predicts school performance better than intelligence scores

Grit

passion and persevereance toward an ambitious, long-term goal

Overlap

grit shares features with conscientiousness, organization, and a growth mindset

West point study

intelligence predicted grades, but grit best predicted who graduated

Over justification effect

rewarding an already enjoyable activity can reduce intrinsic motivation

Intrinsic motivation benefits

people focused on meaning do better work and earn more rewards; students who love learning perform better and earn mroe advanced degrees

Marital premium

married people are about twice as likely as separated or divorced people to report being “very happy”

Disrupted early bonds

repeated moves or foster placements can make it harder to form deep connections

Extreme neglect

children raised without anyone to bond with may become withdrawn, fearful, and delayed in language

Loneliness epidemic over time

loneliness has increased internationally over the last 50 years

What are some things that are caused by lonliness

Dementia (risk increases by 31%) and early death

Solutions for lonliness (3)

connection-friendly spaces, co-housing, shared meals