motivation

Motive

A need or a want that causes us to act.

Motivation

The process that directs and maintains goal-directed behavior.

Instinct Theory

Proposes that behavior is driven by inherited, automatic, species-specific instincts.

Drive Reduction Theory

Focuses on internal states of tension that motivate actions to restore homeostasis.

Incentive Theory

Suggests behavior is driven by external stimuli such as money or approval.

Arousal Theory

The theory that people seek an optimal level of arousal to perform tasks.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

States that moderate arousal leads to optimal performance for most tasks.

Primary Drives

Biological needs essential for survival, like hunger and thirst.

Secondary Drives

Learned drives that satisfy primary needs indirectly.

Achievement Motivation

The desire to meet internalized standards of excellence.

Affiliation Motive

The need to be with others, often triggered by feelings of threat or celebration.

Intrinsic Motivation

Performing an activity for its own sake, driven by internal satisfaction.

Extrinsic Motivation

Performing an activity to obtain external rewards or avoid punishment.

Overjustification Effect

When external rewards diminish intrinsic motivation for a task.

Appraisal Theory

A study that analyzes how we attribute causal explanations to behavior.

Hunger

The physiological and psychological desire for food.

Satiety

The feeling of fullness that signals the end of eating.

Hypothalamus

The brain region regulating hunger and satiety.

Insulin

A hormone that regulates blood sugar by promoting glucose storage.

Leptin

A hormone released by fat cells that signals satiety.

Ghrelin

A hormone that stimulates hunger when secreted by an empty stomach.

Type 1 Diabetes

A condition characterized by little or no insulin production by the pancreas.

Type 2 Diabetes

A condition where the body resists insulin, causing glucose buildup.

Osmoregulators

Cells that detect dehydration and signal thirst.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

A hormone that promotes water retention by reducing urination.

Obesity

Excessive accumulation of body fat due to overeating.

Apple Body Shape

Fat accumulation around the midsection, often seen in men.

Pear Body Shape

Fat accumulation around the hips and thighs, commonly seen in women.

Drive Reduction Theory

States behavior is motivated by biological needs creating a drive for homeostasis.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

A theory that organizes human needs into five levels of motivation.

Physiological Needs

Basic survival needs like food, water, and sleep.

Safety Needs

The need for security, stability, and protection.

Belongingness and Love Needs

The desire for social connection and acceptance.

Esteem Needs

The need for self-respect and recognition from others.

Self-Actualization Needs

The desire to reach one’s full potential and achieve personal growth.

Cognitive Needs

The need to learn, understand, and explore.