PSYCH - MOTIVATION AND EMOTIONS

Charles Darwin: Evolutionary Perspective 

• Humans driven by instinct

  • Autonomic behaviors in response to stimuli

Criticism: We are more complex than that! 

Drive Reduction Theory

• Motivated by biological needs ex) hunger, thirst..

  • Primary needs/ secondary needs (learned)

• Desire for homeostasis 

  • body to be internally balanced or stable

• Criticism: Sometimes we do behavior against our biological needs

Arousal Theory

• Motivated to seek optimal level of excitement/ arousal; high dopamine output 

• Don’t want to be bored or stressed!

• Perform best when high arousal

Yerkes-Dodson law

• Sometimes same level of arousal can motivate good performance or inhibit in a more complex task.  

  • Easy tasks do better with high level, same level may be bad for hard task 

Opponent process theory

• Motivated to return back to baseline (normal state, fear followed by relief.)

• Explains addictive behaviors + thrill seeking.

Incentive Theory

• Motivated by external desire, not need

• Incentives can be rewards or lack of punishments. NOT intrinsically motivated (money, good grades, a trophy)

Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs

• Predicts which needs we satisfy first

• Unique to humans

Criticism: Some people go for higher needs without lower. 

ex) A mother who does not eat for the love of her child. 

Inidividualism

• The habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant

• in an individualist society, everyone is expected to look after themselves or their immediate family.

collectivism

The practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it

• in collectivist societies—from birth and on, people are integrated into strong groups (often extended family)

  • Focusing on others over yourself

Achievement motivation

desire to master knowledge or goals regardless of benefits. Varies from person to person

Extrinsic Motivation

• Motivated by outside rewards or to avoid punishment

• Effective for short term motivation

Intrinsic Motivation

• Motivated by internal rewards. Ex) satisfaction, passion

• More effective in general

Overjustification effect

when an external incentive decreases a person's intrinsic motivation to perform a behavior or participate in an activity (more incentive = less intrinsic)

• e.g: hobbies turned into careers lose that given passion

self efficacy

• Motivation is based on an individual's desire to achieve a certain goal

• based on an individual's belief in their own capacity to achieve said goal.

• ie. perseverance

Upward Social Comparisons

• comparing to those better off

• aspiring to higher achievements

• can motivate self-improvement

• may lead to feelings of inadequacy

  • More induces low self-steem

Downward comparisons

• comparing to those worse off

• emphasizing one’s strengths

• can boost self-esteem

• may result in complacency

  • More induces a hierchy-like mindset

James Lange Theory

stimuli → physiology → emotion

Cannon-Bard theory

stimuli → physiology + emotion

Schatcher-Singer Two-Factor Theory

stimuli → Cognitive label/interpretation + physiology → emotion

Lazarus’ Cognitive-mediational theory

Stimuli → appraisal/assessment → physiology

Paul Ekman’s Research

• cross-cultural facial displays of emotion

• Universal displays of emotion

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

• an individual's emotional experience is influenced by their facial expressions. 

• For example, smiling should typically make an individual feel happier and frowning should make them feel sadder

Stress

Refers to certain life changes (stressors) and how we react (stress reactions)

Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe

• Created SRRS (social readjustment rating scale) measures stress

  • Points by greatest life changes, positive or negative

  • Higher score = more susceptible to stress related diseases

• Now, tests include different scoring with positive/ negative experiences, and human perception

Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

• Created by Hans Selye

• Describes general response animals (and humans) with stress

• He studied cortisol levels/ blood sugar in rats during different stressors

  • Cortisol is a hormone that helps the body manage stress, regulate blood sugar, and control inflammation

• Stress can make you vulnerable to sickness!!

• Perceived lack of control can add to stress. People like to feel in control.

ex) morphine patients

How to relax fast

Smells can trigger the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins.

• These neurotransmitters can contribute to feelings of relaxation and happiness.