AP Psych-Motivation, Emotion, Stress and Health (MESH)

motivation

a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior

drive-reduction theory

the idea that physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy

arousal theory

the notion that people are motivated to achieve and maintain an optimum level of bodily arousal

homeostasis

a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level

incentive theory

explains motivation as the desire to pursue rewards and avoid punishments

leptin

protein secreted by fat cells; causes brain to increase metabolism and decrease hunger

ghrelin

hormone secreted by empty stomach; sends "I'm hungry" signals to the brain

orexin

hunger-triggering hormone secreted by hypothalamus

set point

the point at which an individual's "weight thermostat" is supposedly set; when the body falls below this weight, an increase in hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may act to restore the lost weight

basal metabolic rate

the body's resting rate of energy expenditure

hypothalamus

limbic system component that regulates hunger, body temperature and other functions

achievement motivation

a desire for significant accomplishment; for mastery of things, people or idea; for attaining a high standard

approach-approach conflict

a psychological conflict or a situation of indecision where an individual is confronted having to choose between equally desirable alternatives

approach-avoidance conflict

a psychological conflict or a situation of indecision and vacillation when an individual is confronted with an event or an object that has desirable and undesirable qualities

avoidance-avoidance conflict

a psychological conflict or a situation of indecision and vacillation when an individual has to choose between two undesirable alternatives

multiple approach-avoidance conflict

a psychological conflict of indecision and vacillation when an individual must choose between two or more options, all of which have pros and cons

Yerkes-Dodson Law

for well-learned tasks that require little concentration, we can handle high levels of arousal; for tasks that are not as well-learned or require more concentration, we can handle less arousal

instinct

a complex behavior that has a fixed pattern throughout a species and be unlearned

affiliation need

the need to build relationships and to feel part of a group

Ostracism

exclusion from a society or group

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

self determination theory

theory of motivation that suggests that people have 3 basic needs for well-being: competence, connection, and autonomy.

extrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment

sensation seeking theory

explains motivation by our tendency to pursue new and different sensations, feelings, and experiences; people have different levels of need for this

disinhibition

sensation seeking that focuses on social activities, such as parties, drinking, illegal drugs, and sex

Lewin's Motivational Conflicts Theory

theory that suggests that sometimes the urge to do something worthy or good or pleasurable is opposed by the fact that it involves pain or inconvenience or hard work. Then the organism is in conflict between two opposite motives.

PYY

digestive tract hormone; sends "I'm not hungry" signals to the brain

satiety

feeling of fullness

affect

Appearance of observable emotions

cognitive appraisal

Personal interpretation of the situation that triggers stress

spillover effect

arousal response to one event spills over into our response to the next event

display rules

culturally determined rules about which emotional expressions are appropriate to show

emotion elicitors

basis of emotion; the internal and external events that trigger biological changes

facial feedback hypothesis

the idea that facial expressions can influence emotions as well as reflect them

stress

the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events that we appraise as threatening or challenging

cortisol

stress hormone released by the adrenal glands

General Adaptation Syndrome

Selye's concept that the body responds to stress with alarm, resistance and exhaustion

hypertension

high blood pressure

eustress

positive stress

distress

negative stress

tend and befriend theory

theory that females are more likely than males to respond to stressors with behaviors that:

Quiet, nurture and care for offspring (tending)

Establish and maintain social networks (befriending)

problem focused coping

Attempting to alleviate stress directly by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor.

emotion focused coping

a type of coping in which people try to prevent having an emotional response to a stressor

health psychology

the subfield of psychology concerned with ways psychological factors influence the causes and treatment of physical illness and the maintenance of health

subjective well-being

individuals' personal perceptions of their overall happiness and life satisfaction

positive psychology

the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive

adaptation-level phenomenon

our tendency to form judgments relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience

resilience

the personal strength that helps most people cope with stress and recover from adversity and even trauma

signature strengths

positive human traits that influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and provide a sense of fulfillment and meaning

posttraumatic growth

positive psychological changes as a result of struggling with extremely challenging circumstances and life crises