Unit 5/8 Study Guide

Motivation & Emotion

Achievement Motivation

  • Definition: The drive to accomplish goals, master skills, and attain high standards.

  • Example: A student studying hard to get straight A’s because they want to feel accomplished.

Arousal Theory

  • Definition: People are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal (alertness/excitement).

  • Effects:

    • Too Bored: Seek excitement (e.g., playing a sport).

    • Too Stimulated: Seek calm (e.g., meditation).

  • Yerkes-Dodson Law:

    • Easy tasks = High arousal helps.

    • Hard tasks = Low arousal is better.

    • Example: A little nervousness before a test can help performance, but too much anxiety hurts it.

Drive Reduction Theory

  • Definition: Motivation arises from a need creating a drive that pushes behavior to restore balance (homeostasis).

  • Hunger Example:

    • Need: Food for survival.

    • Drive: Hunger (unpleasant feeling).

    • Behavior: Eating to satisfy the hunger.

Incentive Theory

  • Definition: Motivation comes from external rewards or punishments.

  • Example: Getting paid for good grades motivates studying.

  • Incentives "Pull" Behavior: Unlike drive theory (push from internal needs), incentives attract us to act.

Set Point Theory

  • Definition: The body regulates weight around a genetically determined level.

  • Controlled By: Hypothalamus.

  • Effects on Metabolism:

    • Losing Weight: Metabolism slows, making it harder to keep weight off.

    • Gaining Weight: Metabolism speeds up to burn extra calories.



Stress & The Body

GAS (General Adaptation Syndrome)

  • Definition: The body's 3-stage response to stress (Hans Selye).

  • Stages:

    • Alarm: "Fight or flight" kicks in (heart rate increases, adrenaline released).

    • Resistance: The body adapts to stress (still alert but managing).

    • Exhaustion: If stress continues too long, the body becomes weak and sick.

  • Example:

    • A student rehearsing for a play experiences alarm (initial stress), then resistance (pushing through long hours), and finally exhaustion (fatigue, sickness).

Feel-Good, Do-Good Phenomenon

  • Definition: People who are happy are more likely to help others.

  • Example: If your parents are in a great mood, they are more likely to say yes to giving you money.

Obesity Causes

  • Nature (Genetics): Some people have slower metabolisms or store fat more easily.

  • Nurture (Environment): Unhealthy food choices, lack of exercise, stress eating.



Hunger & Hormones

Ghrelin

  • Definition: A hunger-stimulating hormone.

  • Released By: Stomach when empty.

  • Purpose: Increases appetite and signals the brain to eat.

Insulin

  • Definition: A hormone that regulates blood sugar (glucose).

  • Effect: Lowers blood sugar by storing it as fat or using it for energy.

Carbs & Mood

  • Eating Carbs Releases: Serotonin (a neurotransmitter that makes you feel calm and happy).

Hunger Pangs

  • Definition: Stomach contractions signaling hunger.

  • Experiment: When a balloon was placed in a person’s stomach and inflated, hunger pangs stopped.



Sleep & Consciousness

Why is REM Sleep Called "Paradoxical" Sleep?

  • Brain: Highly active, like when awake.

  • Body: Muscles are "paralyzed" to prevent acting out dreams.

Why Alcohol + Sleeping Pills Are Dangerous Together

  • Both are Depressants: They slow down breathing and heart rate, which can be fatal.

Circadian Rhythm

  • Definition: The body's natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle.

  • Disruptions:

    • Jet Lag: Traveling across time zones throws off sleep schedule.

    • Night Shift Work: Messes up body clock, leading to sleep issues.

Brainwaves & Sleep Stages (Mnemonic: BATS Drink Blood)

  • Awake: Beta waves.

  • Drowsy/Daydreaming: Alpha waves.

  • NREM1: Theta waves (light sleep).

  • NREM2: Sleep spindles (bursts of brain activity).

  • NREM3: Delta waves (deep sleep).

  • REM: Similar to awake brain (dreaming).

REM Rebound

  • Definition: If you don’t get enough REM sleep, your body compensates with extra REM next time.

  • Importance: Proves REM sleep is essential for brain function.



Dreams & Theories

Dream Theories

  • Information Processing: Dreams help organize and process daily experiences.

  • Activation Synthesis: Brain tries to make sense of random neural activity during sleep.

Manifest vs. Latent Content (Freud)

  • Manifest Content: What happens in the dream.

  • Latent Content: The hidden, symbolic meaning behind the dream.



Emotion Theories

James-Lange Theory

  • Emotion = Physiological Response First, Then Feeling.

  • Example:

    • See bear → Heart races → Feel fear.

Cannon-Bard Theory

  • Body and Emotion Happen at the Same Time.

  • Example:

    • See bear → Heart races and feel fear at once.

Schachter-Singer (Two-Factor) Theory

  • Emotion = Physical Reaction + Cognitive Label.

  • Example:

    • Heart races → Think “I’m scared” → Feel fear.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

  • Smiling Can Make You Feel Happy.

  • Supports: James-Lange Theory.

High Road vs. Low Road (Zajonc)

  • Low Road: Quick emotional reaction (fear before thinking).

  • High Road: Thought-out emotional reaction (analyze situation before reacting).

  • Pathways:

    • Low Road: Thalamus → Amygdala (fast).

    • High Road: Thalamus → Cortex → Amygdala (slower).



Drugs & Addiction

Drug Classifications

  • Depressants: Slow down nervous system. (Alcohol, Morphine)

  • Stimulants: Speed up body functions. (Nicotine)

  • Hallucinogens: Alter perception. (LSD, Marijuana)

Polygraph Test Issues

  • Measures: Heart rate, breathing, sweating.

  • Problem: Anxiety and lying look the same on the test, making results unreliable.

Withdrawal Symptoms Example

  • Smoker: Irritability, headaches.

  • Heroin Addict: Nausea, sweating, shaking.