Pysch 4b

Drive-Reduction Theory - behavior is motivated by biological need to maintain homeostasis

Homeostasis - a balanced internal state (ex: not too hungry, not too full)

Need = food; Drive = feeling of hunger; 

Drive-reducing behavior = eating     

Arousal Theory - suggests humans are motivated to seek the optimal level of arousal (differs by individual)

Yerkes-Dodson Law - Says that performance on tasks increases with arousal, but for more difficult tasks, too much arousal will eventually cause performance to decline.

Self-determination theory- people are motivated by intrinsic (internal ex. self esteem) or extrinsic (external ex. money) motivators

Incentive theory - Says behavior is motivated by external rewards.

Instinct Theory- Many non-human animals are motivated by instincts (innate, fixed patterns of behavior in animals that determine responses to certain stimuli). 

Lewin's motivational conflicts theory- We are motivated to resolve conflict caused by having to make choices. 

Approach-Approach Conflict - when you must pick one of two attractive choices  (go to the beach or go skiing?)

Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict - when you must choose between two unattractive choices (eat broccoli or eat peas?)

Approach-Avoidance Conflict - when you have one choice that has both desirable and undesirable outcomes (study abroad and have a great experience overseas but leave your friends and graduate late, or don't study abroad?)

Sensation-seeking theory - Says that one's level of need for varied or new experiences motivates our behavior. 

experience seeking - looking for new experiences through the mind, senses, and a non-conforming lifestyle

thrill or adventure seeking - doing risky but socially acceptable activities such as sky diving.

disinhibition - seeking escape from regular life through partying and social drug/alcohol use

boredom susceptibility  - having a low tolerance for repetitive or uninteresting activities

Eating and Belongingness

Biology: Hypothalamus controls pituitary gland, which causes hormones to be released

Lateral Hypothalamus - creates feelings of hunger, triggers release of ghrelin ("My stomach is ghrelin for some food!", LH for lateral hypothalamus and Large Hunger)

Ventromedial hypothalamus - creates feelings of satiety (fullness), triggers release of leptin ("there's still food leptin my stomach, so I'm not hungry; VMH = ventromedial hypothalamus and Very Minute (tiny) Hunger)

External/environmental factors - presence of food, time of day, or social gatherings around meals also influence the behavior of eating

ostracism - being excluded from a social group