Motivation

Motivation: a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior

4 Major perspectives on motivation

Instinct Theory (evolutionary)

• focuses on genetically predisposed behaviors

• Instinct: complex behavior with a fixed pattern throughout a species that is not learned

  • ex: imprinting

  • doesn’t generally explain human behavior—it’s impacted by both physical needs and the psychological wants—BUT evolution does affect a lot of behavior

    • ex: attraction

Drive-Reduction Theory

• focuses on responses to inner pushes and external pulls

• Physiological need: a basic bodily requirement

  • ex: need energy

• Physiological drive: an aroused state/motivation in response to a physiological need

  • ex: hunger

👉 when a physiological need increases, the physiological drive to reduce the need increases

• Homeostasis: maintenance of steady internal state

• Incentive Theory: idea that ppl are also motivated by environmental stimuli AKA incentives

  • positive incentives —> dopamine increase, drives become active impulses

  • negative incentives —> a punishment motivates people to act differently

👉 more impulse reinforcement, the stronger the drive

ex: underlying drive of hunger, incentive of smell of food heightens drive —> hunger increases and solution is more actively sought

Arousal Theory

• focuses on finding an optimal level stimulation

  • needs are met, but still seek arousal

• Sensation Seeking Theory: idea that some animals seek out arousal

  • Experience Seeking = a desire for new experiences

  • Thrill/Adventure Seeking = a desire for risky or frightening activities

  • Disinhibition = a loss of self control

  • Boredom Susceptibility = inability to tolerate monotony

👉 Yerkes-Dodson Law: moderate arousal leads to optimal performance

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• the prioritization of certain needs above others

• without fulfilling the basic needs, people cannot feel a sense of purpose

• survival —> social —> actualization

Social Motivation

Affiliation Need: the need to build + maintain relationships and feel a sense of belonging

• cooperating with others improves survival chances

• Social Identity = feeling part of a group; improves well-being

• Self-determination theory: the idea that people are driven to satisfy the needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness

  • Intrinsic Motivation = desire to perform behavior for its own sake; enhance CAR feelings

  • Extrinsic Motivation = desire to perform behavior for rewards or to avoid punishments; undermine CAR feelings

• the beginnings of relationships can be the happiest moments while the end of relationships can be the most painful and lead significantly to worse health

• Ostracism: deliberate social exclusion

  • ex: exile, imprisonment, time-out, ghosting

  • can be extremely harmful to well-being—activates regions of brain that are activated during physical pain

  • initial efforts to restore acceptance —> depressed mood —> withdrawal

Achievement Motivation

Achievement Motivation: the desire for accomplishment, mastery of skills, control, and attaining a high standard

• highly ambitious people can outperform the naturally talented, although both are generally required for the most success

• Grit: passion and perseverance for long-term goals

• excessive extrinsic rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation—ex: if you have to be bribed into reading, you’ll think that it’s not worth doing