4.6 Motivation

Motivation

A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior.

Motivation - stimulus

Stimulus that directs behavior of humans and animals.

Achievement motivation

Theory that we are motivated to challenge ourselves even without skills, knowledge, or rewards.

Intrinsic motivation

Doing behavior for yourself; stronger and longer lasting.

Extrinsic motivation

Doing behavior for external factors.

Overjustification effect

External factor decreases intrinsic motivation.

Instinct Theory/Evolutionary Theory of Motivation

Named people's behaviors as instincts patterned in a species and focuses on genetically predisposed behaviors.

Arousal Theory

Theory that your environment can affect your drives/arousal and that there is an optimum arousal level.

Hypothalamus

Controls arousal to maintain homeostasis.

Lateral hypothalamus

Activates when it's time to eat and produces orexin.

Ventromedial hypothalamus

Activates to stop eating.

Hormones for hunger

Orexin and ghrelin (more hungry); PYY and leptin (less hungry).

Set-point theory

Hypothalamus tends to maintain a certain body weight.

Garcia effect

Certain foods make you more or less hungry.

Sexual motivation

Drives from biological, psychological, and social factors.

Refractory period

Males enter this period in which they cannot achieve orgasm again.

Approach-approach conflict

Choose between two desirable outcomes.

Avoidance-avoidance conflict

Choose between two undesirable outcomes.

Approach-avoidance conflict

Choice has a desirable and undesirable outcome.

Multiple approach-avoidance conflict

Choose between multiple options that have mixed outcomes.

Drive reduction theory

Individuals are trying to keep their bodies in homeostasis; if their body is moved out of homeostasis, they will become motivated to correct the change.

Self-efficacy

An individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations.

Cognitive Consistency

Individuals seek to maintain a consistent cognitive system; if they experience something that disrupts that, they become motivated to fix the inconsistency.

Eating Motivation

Eating is a complex motivated behavior that demonstrates how physical and mental processes interact.

Hormones in Hunger Regulation

Hormones, such as ghrelin and leptin (regulated by the hypothalamus via the pituitary gland), regulate feelings of hunger and satiety.

External Factors Influencing Eating

External factors like the presence of food, time of day, or social gatherings around meals also influence the behavior of eating.