AP Psych: Theories of Motivation

Motivation

  • driving factors that initiate, guide, and maintain goal-oriented behavior

Drive Reduction Theory

  • Aroused/tense state that arouses an organism to satisfy a need

  • Homeostasis

    • internal balance in the body

  • Need

    • A biological requirement for proper functioning (food, water)

  • Drive

    • State of unrest/tension (thirst, hunger)

Instinct Theory

  • explains motivation through innate behavior important for an organism’s survival

Arousal Theory

  • Human motivation aims not to eliminate arousal but to seek optimum levels of arousal

  • Yerkes Dodson

    • performance and arousal are directly related

    • there is an optimal level of arousal for the best performance of any task

Humanistic (Maslow)

  • Hierarchy of Needs

    • Maslow suggested some needs have priority over others. All humans have potential to grow

  • Self Actualization

    • Realization of one’s full potential

Self-Determination

  • 3 parts: Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness

  • Autonomy

    • feeling a sense of personal control

  • Competence

    • feeling effective and capable

  • Relatedness

    • feeling connected + cared for