Psyc Ch10lecture recording on 24 October 2024 at 09.45.42 AM

Physiological Arousal and Motivation

• Basic Concept

  • Increasing stimulation in boring tasks (e.g., cleaning) to enhance physiological arousal.

  • Examples: Listening to music or having TV in the background to stay motivated during menial tasks.

Motivation Theories

Drive Theory of Motivation

• Explains motivation via biological needs (e.g., hunger).

James's Instinctual Theory

• Focuses on innate behaviors motivating actions.

Self-Efficacy Theory

• Definition: Belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations.

• Key Proponent: Albert Bandura

• Importance: Higher self-efficacy leads to increased motivation; lower self-efficacy leads to avoidance of tasks.

Social Motives

• **Categories: **

  • Need for Achievement: Desire for accomplishment and performance.

  • Need for Affiliation: Pursuing positive interactions with others.

  • Need for Intimacy: Seeking deeper connections with others.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

• Concept Overview:

  • Lower-level needs (e.g., physiological) must be met before higher-level needs (e.g., belonging, self-esteem).

• Critique: Some individuals can prioritize higher needs over basic physiological needs (e.g., during hunger strikes).

• Emphasis: Recognizing multiple perspectives helps understand varying motivations.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Definitions

• Sexual Orientation: Emotional, romantic, or erotic attraction to others.

• Common Types:

  • Heterosexuality: Attraction to opposite gender.

  • Homosexuality: Attraction to same gender (estimated 3-10% adult population).

  • Bisexuality: Attraction to both genders.

  • Asexuality: Lack of sexual attraction to others.

  • Queer: Umbrella term for diverse sexual identities.

  • Questioning: Exploring one's sexual or gender identity.

Nature vs. Nurture in Sexual Orientation

• Historical view favored nurture, but research supports a biological basis.

• Genetics contribute to variability in sexual behavior (up to 50%).

• Conversion therapies are condemned; evidence shows sexual orientation is not a choice.

Gender Identity

• Definition: A person’s internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither.

• Cisgender: Identification with assigned gender.

• Transgender: Identification with a gender different from the assigned gender.

• Intersex: Combination of male and female biological traits.

Gender Dysphoria

• Experienced by some individuals who identify differently from their assigned gender.

• Not all transgender individuals experience dysphoria.

Emotions: Definitions and Theories

Emotion vs. Mood

• Emotion: Intense subjective response experienced.

• Mood: Long-term affective state, not always consciously recognized.

Components of Emotion

1. Physiological arousal: Bodily reaction.

2. Psychological appraisal: Cognitive interpretation of the situation.

3. Subjective experience: How one feels.

Theories of Emotion

• James-Lange Theory: Emotions follow bodily responses (e.g., heart racing leads to naming the emotion).

• Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotions and physical reactions occur simultaneously.

• Facial Feedback Hypothesis: Facial expressions can influence emotional experiences.

• Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory: Combines physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation as emotion factors.

• Lazarus' Cognitive Mediational Theory: Cognitive appraisal shapes physiological reaction and emotional response.

Biological Bases of Emotion

The Limbic System Components

• Hypothalamus: Hormonal regulation and activation of physiological responses.

• Thalamus: Filters sensory input and directs perception.

• Amygdala: Critical for fear, anxiety, emotional processing, and classical conditioning.

• Hippocampus: Links emotions to memories, affected in conditions like PTSD.

Cultural Impact on Emotional Expression

• Cultural Display Rules: Guidelines for appropriate emotional expression vary across cultures.

• Universality of Emotions: Basic emotions perceived similarly across various cultures; some expressions may vary.

• Paul Ekman’s Research: Helps establish that some emotional expressions are universally recognized, even among individuals born blind.