(10) 4.7a Motivational Concepts

Motivation

• A need or desire that energizes and directs

Instinct/Evolutionary Theory

• Motivations are unlearned instincts caused by adaptations of our ancestral past

Drive-Reduction Theory

• Physiological need creates an aroused tension (a drive) that motivates one to satisfy the need

  • The physiological aim of drive reduction is homeostasis

  • Ex. eating to satisfy hunger, drinking to relieve thirst, and sleeping to alleviate tiredness

Optimal Arousal Theory

• Aims to seek optimum levels of arousal, not to eliminate it

• Ex. A person in a hectic environment might choose to meditate or listen to calm music to lower their arousal levels.

• Ex. A person with low stimulation might play video games or engage in social outings to increase arousal.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

• Moderate arousal can lead to optimal performance

  

Incentive Theory

• A desire for external rewards dictates our behavior

• Ex. A student studies for a difficult exam to keep a scholarship, rather than out of interest in the subject.

Intrinsic Motivation

• Internal desire to accomplish a goal

• Ex. Reading a challenging book simply to understand the topic better, not for a class

• Ex. Offering time to a local charity because it fulfills a personal sense of purpose.

Extrinsic Motivation

• External rewards and praise

• Ex. An employee works overtime specifically to receive a bonus or promotion