Theories of Motivation and Emotion

Instinct Theory

All organisms are born with innate biological tendencies that help them survive.

Drive Reduction Theory

Behavior is motivated by the need to reduce internal drives caused by physiological deficits, such as hunger or thirst, aiming to restore homeostasis.

Arousal Theory

Individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal level of alertness, seeking to increase alertness when it is too low and decrease it when it is too high, to enhance performance and well-being.

Primary Drive

Unlearned drive based on survival (hunger, thirst).

Secondary Drive

Learned drive (wealth or success).

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Performance improves with arousal up to a point, but then decreases when arousal becomes too high.

Incentive Theory

Behavior is motivated by the desire for external rewards or incentives, which can include money, praise, or other tangible benefits.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow suggested that people are motivated by a hierarchy of needs.

Self Actualization

The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potential.

Esteem

The need for self-esteem and respect from others.

Love and belonging

The need for interpersonal relationships and connections.

Safety needs

The need for security and protection from physical and emotional harm.

Physiological needs

Basic human needs for survival, such as food, water, and shelter.

Motivational conflicts theory

Choices create conflicts one must resolve as the basis of motivation.

Self-determination theory

People are motivated by intrinsic (internal) or extrinsic (external) motivations.

Sensation-seeking theory

One's level of need for varied or novel experiences is the basis of motivation.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivated to perform an activity for its own sake and personal rewards.

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivated to perform an activity to earn an award or avoid punishment.

James-Lange Theory

Physiological activity comes before the emotional experience (example: Sight of oncoming car (stimulus) -> Pounding heart (arousal) -> Fear (emotion)).

Cannon-Bard Theory

Suggests that the physical and psychological experience of emotion happen at the same time and that one does not cause the other (Sight of oncoming car (stimulus) -> Fear and pounding heart (emotion and arousal)). This theory is more true than the prior theory.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial expressions are connected to experiencing emotions.

Schachter- Singer Two-Factor Theory

Physiological arousal occurs first, and then the individual must identify the reason for this arousal to experience and label it as an emotion (Sight of oncoming car (stimulus) -> Pounding heart (arousal) and "I'm afraid" (cognitive label) and thus fear (emotion)).

Lazarus's cognitive Appraisal Theory

Emotional response to a situation is determined by our cognitive interpretation of that situation.

Opponent-Process Theory

Suggests that any given emotion has an opposed emotion; activation of one emotion suppresses its opposite emotion.