Chapter 11: Motivation and Emotion

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering biological and psychological theories of motivation, eating disorders, intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, subfields of psychology, theories of emotion, and emotional expression.

Motivation

An inner drive that guides behavior toward achieving a specific goal, proceeding through the stages of initial arousal, direction, and behavioral persistence.

Emotion

A pattern of inner thoughts and feelings, accompanied by physiological responses and sometimes behavioral expression.

Instinct Theory

A biological theory of motivation proposing that certain behaviors are driven by innate evolutionary impulses that help humans survive and reproduce.

Drive Reduction Theory

A biological theory stating that motivation operates like a thermostat sensitive to physiological discomfort, driving behaviors that return the body to homeostasis.

Optimal Arousal Theory

A biological theory stating that humans are motivated to maintain a medium level of physiological arousal to achieve peak performance on tasks.

Yerkes–Dodson Law

The principle stating that a moderate (medium) amount of physiological arousal typically leads to peak performance on a task.

Incentive Theory

A psychological theory stating that motivation originates from external stimuli in the environment that pull behaviors in specific directions based on personal goals.

Self-Determination Theory

A psychological theory stating that motivation to become personally satisfied individuals is driven by the fulfillment of three basic needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

A motivational model proposing that human needs are prioritized in a hierarchical order: physiological needs, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization.

Self-Actualization

The highest level of Maslow's hierarchy, characterized by the pursuit of personal growth and the desire to become the most that one can be.

Hypothalamus

A brain structure that maintains bodily homeostasis by managing hormones and chemicals through the pituitary gland.

Obesity

An unhealthy and excessive body weight, clinically measured using one's body mass index (BMI).

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by an inaccurate self-perception of being "fat" and an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to severe health complications such as osteoporosis, bone fractures, and organ failure.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed immediately by purging (e.g., vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise), which can result in cardiac arrhythmia, digestive disorders, and damage to the throat, stomach, and teeth.

Intrinsic Motivation

The desire to perform an activity because the activity itself is inherently enjoyable or rewarding.

Extrinsic Motivation

The desire to perform an activity to obtain an external reward or outcome.

Overjustification Effect

The phenomenon in which intrinsic motivation is undermined when an external reward is introduced for performing an activity that was already inherently rewarding.

Achievement Motivation

The desire to work hard, master a skill, achieve a goal, and accomplish something useful with one's life.

Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology

A subfield of psychology that examines human dynamics in work settings, focusing on personnel selection, job satisfaction, work motivation, and leadership.

School Psychology

A subfield of psychology focused on the psychological assessment and intervention for children and adolescents within educational environments.

Sport Psychology

A subfield of psychology focused on the psychological and social dynamics of athletes and coaches in athletic environments.

Curiosity

The intrinsic motivation to seek information about something unusual or interesting when there is no incentive other than simply wanting to know.

Cognitive Curiosity

A form of curiosity characterized by close observation that leads to learning and problem-solving, carrying the potential risk of embarrassment.

Sensory Curiosity

A form of curiosity characterized by thrill-seeking and pursuing novel physiological experiences, carrying the potential risk of accidents.

James–Lange Theory of Emotion

The theory proposing that environmental stimuli first trigger a physiological bodily response, which is subsequently interpreted to produce an emotion.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

The hypothesis proposing that facial expressions can occur first and directly influence or shape subsequent emotional experiences.

Cannon–Bard Theory of Emotion

The theory proposing that environmental stimuli trigger physiological arousal and emotional experiences simultaneously and independently.

Schachter–Singer Theory (Two-Factor Theory)

The theory proposing that emotional experience is produced by interpreting both physiological arousal and the situational context in which it occurs.

Lazarus Cognitive-Mediational Theory

The theory proposing that environmental stimuli first trigger a cognitive appraisal or label, which produces an emotional experience, followed by a physiological response.

Universality Hypothesis

The proposition that all humans, regardless of cultural background, share the same facial expressions for core emotions and can recognize them in others.

Display Rules

Socially learned, culture-specific norms that dictate how, when, and where emotions should be expressed.

Duchenne Smile

A genuine, felt smile that contracts the muscles around the eyes, producing visible "crow's feet" wrinkles.

Truth Wizards

Individuals who possess an exceptional, natural ability to accurately detect lies and deception.

Duping Delight

A subconscious smirk or fake smile displayed by a deceiver who feels pleasure or satisfaction from believing they are successfully deceiving someone.

Survival Circuits

Finely-tuned neural pathways tied to emotional experiences, such as defense, reproductive, and feeding circuits.

Terror Management Theory

A theory proposing that awareness of one's eventual mortality causes existential terror, motivating individuals to cling to comforting cultural beliefs and values.

Cognitive Empathy

The capacity to understand another individual's mental state by intellectually imagining their perspective and recognizing their emotions.

Affective Empathy

The capacity to physically or emotionally experience the emotional state of another person or animal.