Psych Final

Classic Motivation Theories (see Table, p. 237 – read about each theory)
1. Drive-reduction Theory
- we have physiological needs (need for food, water)
- if need is not met, it creates a drive, an aroused, motivated state
(thirst, hunger)
- drive pushes us to reduce the need by eating, drinking
Also pulled by incentives
2. Arousal Theory – we seek optimum arousal for us
Sensation Seeking
Curiosity (causes monkeys to monkey around!)
Why do you want to climb Mt. Everest? (Mallory: “Because it is there”)

3. Hierarchy of Needs – Maslow
Need to Belong
The “newest” level is self-transcendence needs (see p. 236); however,
you don’t have to be too concerned about that -just get the gist of how
it works and know the lowest level (physiological needs).
Hunger Motive
Physiology of Hunger - hypothalamus
Psychology of Hunger
Obesity
Eating Disorders – Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa; these have the
highest mortality rate of all the psychological disorders!
Bulimia – binge and purge; the individual may maintain a normal weight
Anorexia – basically self-starvation; the individual still thinks they are
overweight
The Need to Belong – pp. 242 – 246 – this is an interesting section!
- What are some benefits of belonging?
- Describe the pain of ostracism
- What are the social effects of social networking?
- Does social networking promote narcissism?
- What are some suggestions for maintaining balance and focus in terms
of social media?

3 components of an emotion:
- physiological changes (bodily arousal)
- behavioral expression (walk faster)
- cognitive experience (“Am I being kidnapped?”)
Cannon-Bard Theory: arousal and emotion happen at the same time
James-Lange Theory: physiology arousal comes before the emotion
Know about the Schacter-Singer Two Factor Theory and the spillover effect

Freud’s Premises

• Instincts guide behavior (Libido for Life, Thanatos for Death)

• The unconscious is important in shaping behavior

Three Components of Personality 

• Id – inborn; expression of basic instincts, pleasure principle

  • “Want what I want when I want it”

• Ego – rationale/reasoning – Tries to satisfy the Id and Superego, but within what is realistic and practical

  • Has a job to balance between Id and Superego

• Superego – Morality principle (idealistic principle)

  • …

Ego Defenses

• Reduces anxiety

• May distort reality

• Sublimation

  • Channeling negative urges to appropriate events/activities

  • Example: Aggression to Boxing

• Denial

  • Twisting ideas to not face the reality in front of you

• Rationalization

  • Making excuses for unacceptable behavior

  • Pretending you weren’t interested for being rejected

• Displacement

  • Taking out emotion on a safer target

  • Anger from a job to yelling at a friend

• Projection

  • Placing something you don’t like about yourself onto someone/something else

• Regression

  • Going back to an earlier stage/acting immaturely

  • Behaving like a baby

• Reaction Formation

  • Acting opposite to how you feel

  • Pretending to be extremely happy when you feel sad

Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Personality Development

1. Oral Stage: birth - 18 months (weaning issue)

   1. Can be “fixated” and manifest 

      1. Smoking

      2. Drinking

      3. Nail Biting

      4. Overeating

2. Anal Stage: 18 months - 3 years (potty training issue)

   1. Freud believed one type of potty training can lead to an OCD-type personality (Anal Retentive)

   2. Anal Repulsive - defiant personality

3. Phallic Stage: 3 - 5 years (Oedipus complex, Castration Anxiety, Identification)

   1. Superego forms

4. Latency Stage

   1. Libido goes “underground” – inactive

5. Genital Stage

   1. Beginning of adult sexuality