AP Psychology Unit 6 - Gumpf

drive theory

Psychological or physical needs/deficits create a state of  tension energizing the organism to seek homeostasis

cognitive consistency theory

people are motivated to seek coherent attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, values, behaviors, and feelings

festinger’s cognitive dissonance

when two beliefs are inconsistent, individuals experience negatively arousing cognitive conflict

arousal theory

individuals are motivated to perform behaviors in order to maintain an optimal arousal level, typically a moderate level

yerkes-dodson law

Interaction between task difficulty, arousal and performance

Difficult tasks: performance is best when arousal is lower. \

Easy tasks: performance is best when arousal is higher

incentive theory

Positive or negative external stimuli that pull 

behavior

extrinsic motivation

motivation driven by an external reward or punishment

intrinsic motivation

motivation driven by internal factors such as enjoyment and satisfaction

overjustification effect

Studies show that externally rewarding someone for an activity they already enjoy doing will decrease intrinsic desire for the activity. 

lateral hypothalamic

stimulates hunger 

• If lesioned, you will not feel hunger.

ventromedial hypothalamus

tells you when you are full.

• If lesioned, you will never feel full. 

orexigenic

Hunger signals like Ghrelin and Orexin

ghrelin

secreted by an empty stomach

• secreted by hypothalamus

• stimulates hunger

orexin

secreted by hypothalamus

• triggers hunger

anorexigenic

Full signals like leptin and Peptide YY (PYY)

short-term hunger cues

external stimuli, such as color or taste, that influence consumption

long-term hunger cues

physiological stimuli, such as body fat, leptin levels and set point, that influence consumption

leptin

Secreted by fat cells.

• Communicates with the hypothalamus.

• If fat stores fall, leptin signals brain to stimulate hunger

peptide YY (PYY)

digestive tract hormone; sends "I'm not hungry" signals to the brain

instrumental vs hostile aggression

• motivated by achieving a goal/gaining a reward, and does not necessarily intend to cause pain

• motivated by feelings of anger with an intent to cause pain

human sexual response cycle

4 physiological parts

• Excitement

• Plateau

• Orgasm

• Refractory Period/Resolution

  observed and measured over 10,000 response cycles in the lab!!!

alfred kinsey

• Created the “Kinsey Scale”, a continuum from homosexuality to heterosexuality

• Obtained information from interviews and summarized in the Kinsey Reports

• Methods were criticized, but people started investigating the possibility that preferences are social constructs, not written in stone

anorexia & bulimia comparison

• Severe food restriction, but possibly binging and purging also

• > 15% under normal body weight

• Preoccupation w/ weight or fear of weight gain

• Preoccupation w/ food, yet refusal to eat

• Denial of hunger/lying about amount eaten

  VS

• Binging & purging (episodes of overeating, followed by vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise)

• Preoccupation w/ weight or fear of weight gain

• Feeling that eating is out of control

estrogens

female hormone, secreted by ovaries

androgens

male hormones (e.g. testosterone), secreted by testes

affiliation motive

People motivated by affiliation:

• Devote more time to interpersonal activities

• Worry more about acceptance

• Have an urge for a friendly supportive environment

• Are good performers in a team, and prefer interactive work environments

Pros: 

• Evolutionary views state affiliation helps foster survival and reproductive benefits (Baumeister & Leary)

Cons:

• Desire to be accepted and liked by others may weaken objectivity, thus those high in affiliation generally do not make good leaders (McClelland)

achievement motive

People motivated by achievement:

• Work harder and more persistently 

• Delay gratification

• May pursue competitive careers, but often perceive achievement as the reward, not the money

• Will choose an intermediate task over a difficult or easy one in laboratory studies

Pros: 

• Assume responsibility for solving problems, and look for innovative ways to perform the job (McClelland)

Cons: ???

“The Gamblers” they set challenging targets for themselves and take deliberate risks to achieve those targets (McClelland)

approach-approach conflict

Choosing between two equally desirable options

approach-avoidance conflict

Making a choice about a single option that has both an attractive and unattractive quality.

avoidance-avoidance conflict

Choosing between two equally unattractive options

multiple approach-avoidance conflict

Making a choice about two or more options that each with an attractive and unattractive quality.

plutchik’s psychoevolutionary theory of emotions

• Believes emotions adapted over time to increase reproductive fitness. 

• Suggests 8 primary emotions (center of wheel) that can vary in intensity and blend with neighboring emotions. 

• Plutchik is neo-Freudian and related the  psychoevolutionary emotions to Freud’s defense mechanisms. 

• Improve your emotional literacy with this Interactive Wheel.

common-sense theory of emotion

first you feel emotion, then there is a physiological response

facial feedback hypothesis

the idea that using the muscles involved in a certain emotion will make you feel that emotion

james-lange theory

feelings are based on physical arousal. Emotion is  the interpretation of your body’s reaction.

cannon-bard theory

physical arousal and feelings emerge together.

schachter’s cognitive theory

you feel the physical arousal, appraise the situation, then interpret the emotion.