PSYC 201 Chapter 8 Motivation and Emotion

Drive/Motivation

a behavior motivates an individual to achieve a specific set of goals or behavior

-drives change over time 

-motivates what we think, feel, and do

Three characteristics of motivation

Activation: Initiation of behavior
Persistence: Continued efforts to achieve the goal
Intensity: Vigor of behavior 

Regulatory Drive

helps preserve life by regulating basic body functions/needs

non regulatory drives

serve other purposes

-such as achievement and curiosity

Instict theory

the view that certain human behaviors are innate and due to evolutionary programming.

-applied well to simple organisms, but not much to complex animals

instinct

a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species
-NOT LEARNED BEHAVIOR

drive reduced theory

the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need
need: food, water
drive: hunger, thirst
drive reducing behavior: eating, drinking

homeostasis

a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state

-there are homeostatic systems that control all of our regulatory drives

incentive theory

the view that behavior is motivated by the pull of external goals, such as rewards

Incentive

a positive or negative environmental stimulus that MOTIVATES behavior

Arousal Theory

There is internal motivation to seek optimum levels of arousal, rather than simple homeostasis

Hypothalamus

regulates…

-hunger, thirst

-water balance

-reproduction

-electrolyte balance

-body temp

-blood pressure

Maslow’s Theory

Humans have a pyramid-shaped hierarchy of needs

1) Physiological needs: food, water, warmth, rest

2) Safety needs: need to feel safe, secure, and stable

3) Belongingness and love needs: friends + intimate relationships
4) Esteem needs: need for achievement, competence, and independence

5) Self-actualization needs: Need to live up to one’s fullest and unique potential

Self-determination theory

Deci and Ryan’s theory that optimal human functioning can occur only if the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are satisfied

Autonomy: determine, control, and organize our own behavior
Competence: the need to learn + master challenging tasks

Relatedness: the need to feel attached to others and experience a sense of belongingness, security, and intimacy

Intrinsic motivation

the desire to engage in tasks that are inherently satisfying and enjoyable, novel, or optimally challenging.

-to do something for its own sake

Extrinsic motivation

the external factors or influences on behavior, such as rewards, consequences, or social expectations

Achievement Goal theory

Measures of achievement motivation generally correlate
well with various areas of success

-mastery goals = growth mindset

-performance goals = fixed mindset

Basil metabolic rate

the body’s resting rate of energy expenditure

Set point

the point at which a persons weight is supposedly set

-if intake is reduced, hunger is increased and metabolism is decreased

-if intake is increase, then hunger is decreased and metabolism is increased

Factors that trigger eating

Physiological changes
1) Drop in the level of blood glucose
2) Changes in levels of ghrelin which is produced by stomach
Learning
1) The time of day or smelling food can trigger the need to eat

Biological factors and food

-Cravings for starch
-preferences for sweet and salty foods

-food aversions

-wariness of exotic food

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

1) Increased Cholecystokinin (CCK) released by stomach cells when it detects increase of food in stomach

Leptin

Increased leptin released by fat cells help regulate hunger and eating behavior

-Increased leptin = more fat is being stored = less eating