Hunger

• The Drive-Reduction Theory would explain hunger as a drive we aim to reduce, a physiological response to a need for food

• Maslow’s Hierarchy would claim that hunger is a basic need that we are motivated to fulfill

• Incentive Theory would explain hunger as the motivating pull of the rewards of eating

The Biopsychosocial Approach

• Biologically, we need food to survive, so our body makes us feel hungry so that we do not starve

  • The body knows it needs more food when the glucose levels drop, which is the compound we get our energy from

• Socially, the presence of others in a dining setting or perving portions can affect our hunger

• Psychologically, the anticipated pleasure of eating or the rewards of it, as well as mood, can affect hunger

• The hypothalamus has a hand in influencing our hunger and satiation

  • The hypothalamus has two centers that we will cover

  • The lateral hypothalamus promotes eating behaviors by releasing the hormone orexin when stimulated

  • The ventromedial hypothalamus promotes satiety when stimulated

Motivational Conflicts

• Motivations conflict when there is a desire to act but it goes against another emotion or motivation

• There are four kinds of motivational conflict

Approach/Approach

• Conflict arises when choosing between two desirable, but mutually exclusive, options

• A win-win situation

• For example, when you want to order two equally appetizing dishes on a menu, but will have to choose one

• This kind of scenario presents the least conflict

Avoidance/Avoidance

• Conflict occurs when choosing between two undesirable, but mutually exclusive, options

• There is no winning

• Choosing between the ‘lesser of two evils’

• For example, if you are motivated to borrow your parent's car, you will be driven to do many chores so that they say yes, but you have to choose between mopping or cleaning the bathroom

• People tend to procrastinate, hoping a new option will arise

• Typically creates high conflict

Approach/Avoidance

• Conflict occurs when a single event or goal has both desirable and undesirable consequences

• For example, if you are offered a better-paying job, you will get more money, but have a longer commute

• The conflict is often avoided until a decision has to be made

• This is usually a major source of tension

Double Approach/Avoidance

• Conflict occurs when you choose between two options that both have desirable and undesirable consequences, but are mutually exclusive

• For example, choosing a college can often present this kind of conflict

  • One college is in-state and many friends are going but doesn’t have the opportunities you want

  • The second option has the opportunities you want, but is very expensive and far away

• The choice is between two approach/avoidance conflicts

• This presents the highest level of conflict