AP Psych: Motivation

Motivation

Specific need or desire, such as hunger, thirst or achivement, that prompts goal-directered behavior

(drive)

Primary Drive

Unlearned drive found in all animals, motives behavior necessary for survival

EX: Hunger, thirdt and sex.

Secondary Drive

Learned drive

EX: wealth, succes

Fixed Action Pattern

Specific behaviors unique to a species

Homeostasis

The regulation of the internal enviorment, such as body temp, salt-water blance,etc.

*Intrinsic Motivation*

Motivation for a behavior is the behavior itself

You do it because you enjoy it.

Extrinsic motivation

Behavior is performed in order to obtain a reward or to avoid punishment.                                 You do it to get something.

Instinct Theory

**Views biological or genetic programming as the cause of motivation**. This claim means that all humans have the same motivations due to our similar biological programming. This theory says that the root of all motivations is the motivation to survive. / Motivated by instincs; **fixed action patterns that are not learned.**

PROS Instinct Theory

Explains animal motivations

CONS Instinct Theory

Doesnt really apply to humans. We have very few reflexes (instincts) and most fade over time. Our motivations are mostly learned.

Drive Reduction theory

Physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) when they are not fullfield, that motivates an organism to satisfy the need.

The aim of the drive reduction is homeostasis, the maintenance of a steady internal state.

 

PROS Drive Reduction theory

Biological Explanation

Explains primary drives

 

CONS Drive Reduction theory

* Does not applu secondary drives.
* Once homeostasis is achieved we never do anything, but we keep trying for more. (doesnt explain things like obesity or sexual addictions)

Cognitive Dissonance theory

Psychological discomfort by two conflicting thoughtd, leads to a change and/or justification of behavior.

You are motivated to decrease a mental state of discomfort.

PROS Cognitive Dissonance theory

* Allows you to predict how *people* might justify or change their behaviors based on motivations.

CONS Cognitive Dissonance theory

Cant predict which way the nehaviors will change.

Incentive theory

Incentuve theory says we are pulled through external forces to obtain a desire.

Do something to get something.

PROS Incentive theory

Helps to explain secondary drive

CONS Incentive theory

Over simplifies motivations and poorly explains intrinsic motivation

Optimum Arousal theory

There is an optimal level of arousal for best performanceon any task.

The right amount of arousal can motivate us to perform.

 

Yerkes-Dodson law: simple tasks require higher levels of arousal. Harder tasks require a lower level of aorusal. (too much or too little is detrimental)

Yerkes-Dodson law

simple tasks require higher levels of arousal. Harder tasks require a lower level of aorusal. (too much or too little is detrimental)

PROS Optimum Arousal theory

Explains

* Performance related motivation.
* Why we seek out new experiences.
* Why seek to eliminate boredom.

CONS Optimum Arousal theory

Really specific (limited).

Hierarchy of needs

Suggested that human motivation is complex and for us to become our ideal selves we must meet certain needs first.

The goal is self actualization.

PROS Hierarchy of needs

* Nicely summarizes the complexity of motivations and includes intrnsic motivation.

CONS Hierarchy of needs

* Basic need dont always need to be met first, has been changed from Mslows original theory.

Self-actualization

A person motivation to reach his or her full potential.

Morality, creativity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, etc.

Esteem

Confidence, self esteem, respect of others, respect by others.

Love / Belonging

Frienship, family, sexual intimacy.

Safety

Security of body, or employment, resources, family, helth or property.

Physiological

Breathing food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, etc.

Order of Maslow´s Hierarchy of needs

Self-Actualiztion

Esteem

Love/Belonging

Safety

Physiological

Health Psychology

 Brach of psychology that addressed the factors related to well-being and illness. (Prevention, diagnosis, treatment, etc.)

Distress

A stress that is negative or damaging

Eustress

A Stress that is positive or motivating

Results of stress

Emotional differences:

Anxiety, depression, anger and irritability

Results of stress

Cognitive differences:

Trouble concentrating and thinking clearly

Results of stress

Motivational differences:

Change in appetite for food and sex.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Chronic stress creates a physiological reaction that looks similar in all species.

Alarm stage

Resistance

Exhaustion

Alarm Stage

Temporary stage of shock, immune system decreaded functioning.

Resistance stage

Hormones and immune function enhanced.

Exhauntion stage

Failure to rsist, immune system gives up.

Personality; Type A

Competitive and ambitious

More prone to heart disease

Personality; Type B

Relaxed and easygoing

Coping

Efforts to control, reduce, or tolerate the threats that leads to stress.

Problem-Focused coping

Attempt to modify the stressful problem or source of stress.

Emotion-Focused coping

Attempt to menage their emotions in the face of stress, seeking to change the way they feel about or perceive a problem.

Approach Conflict Theories

4 kinds of conflict that cause strss and motivation.

Approach Approach (Win-Win)

Conflict is due to the choice between which win.

Approch Avoidance (Win-Lose)

 Outcome is both good and bad, conflict is you having to deal with it.

Avoidance Avoidance (Lose-Lose)

Both outcomes are bad, have to choose one,

Multiple Approach Avoidance (Double Win-Lose)

Must choose between two or more approach avoidance conflicts.

Old Emotion Theories

James-Lange

Cannon-Bard

New Emorion Theories

Schater/Two factor

Lazarus Cognitive-Appraisal Theory

\
They add the element of cognitive labeling; thinking about and labeling what the emotion is.

James-Lange theory

Psysical Arousal happens first, leads to the emotion

\
Stimulus → Arousal → Emotion

Cannon-Bard theory

Emotional and physiological reactions occur simultaneously.

→ Arousal

Stimulus

→ Emotion

Schater two factor

Arousal and cognitive labeling occur simultaneously, then you experience emotion.

Arousal

Stimulus → → Emotion

Cognitive Label

\
*Direct Pathway: Amygdala*

Lazarus Cognitive Appraisal theory

Cognitive labeling first then you experience the emotion and arousal simultaneously.

→ Arousal

Cognitive label

→ Emotion

\
*Indirect Pathway: Hypothalamus*

Le Doux Biological Explanation

 

The thalamus routes the perception if the stimulus to either:

 


1. Direct Pathway / Schacter theory : goes to the Amygdala

 


1. Indirect Pathway / Lazarus Theory: goes to the Frontal Lobe.

6 universal emotions

* Happiness
* Anger
* Sadness
* Surprise
* Disgust
* Fear

Evidence 6 universal emotions

 

Most of them are presented in infancy. Even blind children display these emotions.

Duchene smile

 We can tell a real smile based off other features.

 

Facial Feedback hypothesis

Facial expression can influence emotions.

Display Rules

 A social group or culture´s norms of how to express certain emotions.

Biology of hunger

The Glucose level in your blood is maintained by your pancreas.

Levels of glucose in the blood are monitores by neurond in the stomach, liver, and intestines. They send signals to the hypothalamus in the brain.

Insulin

(a hormone) decreases glucose in the blood.

When you have too much glucose the body releases it.

Diabetes

 is the result of the body not producing insulin.

Lateral Hypothalamus

* Stimulated: Makes you hungry
* Destroyed: You no longer feel hunger.

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

* Stimulated: You feel full
* Destroyed: You never feel sated.

Hormones that increase appetite

Released by lateral hypothalamus

\
* Gherelin
* Orexin

Hormones that decrease appetite

Released by ventromedial hypothalamus

\
* Obestatin
* PYY
* Leptin

Risk of obesity

* Heart Attack
* Hypertension
* Athrosclerosis
* Alzheimers disease
* Diabetes.

Genetics in obesity

* Identical twins reared apart still have similar body weights.
* Adopted childrens weight resembles their biological parents.

Psychological factors in obesity

* Learning sets from parents (no control of parents in childrens diets)
* Stress
* Lack of sleep

Societal Factors

Fast food is cheaper than the healthy food, and fast food is calorically dense and unhealthy compared to cooking in.

Anorexia Nervosa

Symptoms:

* Weight loss of at least 15% ideal weight (according to BMI)
* Intense fear of gaining weight
* Distorted body image
* Major caloric restriction, excessive exercise

Bulimia Nervosa

Symptoms:

* Usually normal body weight
* Binge-Purge eating pattern;

Eating in a discrete period of time (e.g. 2 hour period) an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat under similar circumstances, followed by “purging” the food through vomiting, misuse of laxatives, etc

Similarities between Anorexia and Bulimia

* Recurrent inapropiate compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain.

(Self induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas. Fasting)

* Pre occuoation with food.

Binge eating disorder

Symptoms:

* Engages in binging behaviors but no purging behaviors.
* Usually above average weight.

Dangers of eating disorders

Extreme organ damage

* Heart
* Kidneys
* Stomach
* Esophagus
* Brain

 

Death.

Eating disorders are most common in:

 Young

◦ Females

◦ Athletes / dancers, etc.

◦ Authoritarian parents

◦ High Neuroticism scores

 i.e. high stress individuals

Causes eating disorders

* Usually triggered by another disorder or other

external event (such as parenting style, hobby,

etc.)

* Brain changes are evident – but which came

first?

Biology of Sex; Hypothalamus

This part regulates a lot of functions (reward center, hormone control, homeostasis and eating beaviors)

* Stimulated--> increase in sexual behavior
* Surgical removal ---> Sexual inhibition

Biology of Sex; Pitutary Gland

monitors, initiates and restrict hormones.

Sex Hormones

Effect the development of sexual characteristics and activate sexual behavior.

* Male; Testicles; testosterone (little estrogen)
* Female: Ovaries; Estrogen (little testosterone)

Human Sexual Response pattern

1. Excitement phase
2. Plateau Phase
3. Orgasm
4. Refractory (resolution)

Sexual Orientation

He created the Kinsey scale of sexuality… 0 to 6, where 0 is exclusively heterosexual and 6 is homosexual.

7 is Asexual.

Evidence of the kinsey scale of sexual oriebtation

* Differences in Brain; Anterior hypothalamus is smaller in woman and gays.
* Twin studies; Genes (identical twins tend to have same sexuality)
* Prenatal Hormone Exposure; the more boys a womrn has, the more likely that the younger boys are gay.
* Occurs in other species in nature.

Industrial / Organization Psychology

Is the application of concepts and methods in order to optimaze human behavior in the workplace.

Ergonomics (Human factors)

Intersection of engineering and psychology.

Focuses on safety and efficiency of human-machine interactions.

Safe / Comfortable work enviorment : Health and more productive employees.

Industrial (personnel) psychology

focuses on employee recruitment, selection, placement, training, appraisal and development.

Organizational Psychology

Examines organizational influences on worker satisfaction and productivity, and facilitates organizational change.

The Hawthorne Effect

Individual productivity increases when workers are singled out and made to feel important.

Performance is subject to social pressures and group norms.

Leon Festinger

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

(Psychological discomfort)

Abraham Maslow

Hierarchy of needs

William Masters and Virginia Johnson

Hum,an Sexual Response Pattern

Alfred Kinsey

Sexual Orientation

Stanley Schacter

Schacter two factor theory

(cognitive labeling and arousal happen at the same time, then emotion).

Richard Lazarus

Lazarus Cognitive-Appraisal Theory

(Cognitive labeling first, then arousal and emotion at the same time)

Joseph LeDoux

Biological explanation of the theories of emotion.