psylife4_ch09_lecppt

Intrinsic Motivation: Engagement in activities for their own value and pleasure, rather than for some separable consequence. For example, a person who plays an instrument purely for enjoyment experiences intrinsic motivation. They may practice regularly not for public performance but simply because they find great pleasure in making music, which resonates deeply with their personal interests and passions.

Environmental and Physiological Factors Influencing Hunger and Weight:

• Biological Contributors: The role of hormones like ghrelin, which signals hunger, and leptin, which indicates fullness, are essential. Variations in blood chemistry, such as glucose levels, also impact hunger perception.

• Socio-Cultural Influences: Environmental cues, such as food availability, dietary practices rooted in cultural norms, and even portion sizes in restaurants can significantly influence what, when, and how much we eat. For instance, the prevalence of fast food in the environment can lead to higher calorie consumption.

• Emotional State: Emotional eating can occur when individuals consume food in response to their feelings, like stress or depression, overriding physiological hunger signals.

New Learning About Emotions: I learned about the James-Lange Theory, which posits that emotions arise from physiological responses. This theory suggests that we feel emotions after our bodies react to stimuli. For instance, if you see a bear and your heart races, your physiological reaction (increased heart rate) is followed by the emotion of fear. This emphasizes the importance of the body's responses in our emotional experiences, illustrating that recognizing physical changes can be integral to understanding our emotional states.