Motivation and Emotion Lecture

Chapter 9: Motivation and Emotion

Chapter 9 Overview: Big Questions

• What Motivates Your Behavior?

• What Are Your Most Important Motivated Behaviors?

• How Do You Experience Emotions?

• How Do Emotions Support Social Relationships?

What Motivates Your Behavior?

9.1 Many Factors Influence Motivation

• Four Basic Qualities of Motivation:

  • Activating: Stimulates individuals to act.

  • Directive: Guides behaviors towards specific goals or needs.

  • Sustaining: Supports persistence in behaviors until goals are achieved.

  • Differing in Strength: Variability in motivational strength based on individual and contextual factors.

9.1 Many Factors Influence Motivation (2)

Factors that Motivate Behavior

9.1 Many Factors Influence Motivation (3)

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

• Need: Biological or social deficiency state.

• Need Hierarchy: Basic survival needs must be satisfied before higher-level needs can be pursued (e.g., self-actualization).

9.1 Many Factors Influence Motivation (4)

Drive Reduction Theory

• Drive: Creates arousal that motivates behavior to satisfy a need; essential biological drives help maintain equilibrium (e.g., hunger).

• Homeostasis: Bodily functions maintain stability; current research indicates an average human body temperature of approximately $36.4^{ ext{°C}}$ or $97.5^{ ext{°F}}$.

9.1 Many Factors Influence Motivation (5)

Arousal and Performance

• Arousal: Refers to physiological activation (increased brain activity, heart rate, etc.).

• Individuals are motivated differently based on their optimal arousal levels.

9.1 Many Factors Influence Motivation (6)

Yerkes-Dodson Law

• Performance improves with arousal up to an optimal point beyond which excessive arousal decreases performance. Graph is shaped like an upside-down U.

9.1 Many Factors Influence Motivation (7)

Pleasure Principle (Freud)

• Freudian theory indicates satisfaction of needs is driven by seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.

9.2 Some Behaviors Are Motivated for Their Own Sake

9.2 (1) Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

• Intrinsic Motivation: Engagement in an activity for its own sake due to inherent value or enjoyment.

• Extrinsic Motivation: Performance of an activity to achieve an external goal related to the task.

9.2 Some Behaviors Are Motivated for Their Own Sake (2)

Effects of Extrinsic Rewards

• Self-Determination Theory: Motivation is influenced by the desire for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Extrinsic rewards possibly undermine intrinsic motivation.

• Self-Perception Theory: Individuals infer motives based on their behaviors and contexts, suggesting motives may not be explicitly known to themselves.

What Are Your Most Important Motivated Behaviors?

9.3 Motivation to Eat Is Affected by Biology

Biological Influences on Eating (1)

• Stomach Movements: Associated with hunger but are more about digestion than motivation.

• Blood Chemistry: Receptors monitor nutrient levels (e.g., glucose).

9.3 Motivation to Eat Is Affected by Biology (2)

Hormonal Influences

• Insulin: Secreted by pancreas to control blood glucose levels (inhibits eating).

• Ghrelin: Released from an empty stomach increases eating behavior (short-term hunger signal).

• Leptin: Secreted by fat cells decreases eating behavior (long-term satiation signal).

9.3 Motivation to Eat Is Affected by Biology (3)

Biological Mechanisms

• Detectors monitor nutrient levels, signaling to hypothalamus, encouraging food intake:

  • Fat Cells: Secrete leptin (discouraging eating).

  • Hypothalamus: Processes hunger signals.

  • Blood: Low glucose levels signal hunger.

  • Stomach: Releases ghrelin when empty.

  • Pancreas: Secretes insulin after eating.

9.3 Motivation to Eat Is Also Influenced by Learning (1)

• Conditioned Eating: Anticipatory responses driven by internal clocks motivate eating preparation.

9.3 Motivation to Eat Is Also Influenced by Learning (2)

Familiarity in Food Preferences

• Avoidance of unfamiliar foods (potentially harmful) promotes survival; dietary preferences shaped by cultural upbringing.

9.3 Motivation to Eat Is Also Influenced by Learning (3)

Influence of Culture

• Cultural familiarity can lead to refusal of nutritious foods even in dire circumstances.

9.3 Motivation to Eat Is Also Influenced by Learning (4)

Sensory Preferences

• Humans naturally prefer sweetness; repetitive food consumption leads to quicker satiety.

9.5 People Have a Need to Belong

9.5 (1) Group Motivation

• Need to Belong Theory: Interpersonal attachments are fundamental for adaptive purposes, illustrated in social situations (e.g., movies like Cast Away).

9.5 (2) Belonging Uncertainty

• Particularly affects underrepresented groups, leading to increased focus on social cues indicating acceptance or belonging.

9.6 People Have a Need to Achieve Long-Term Goals

9.6 (1) Achievement Motivation

• Murray's Definition: A basic psychosocial need to attain excellence; influenced by factors such as:

  • Goals set.

  • Self-efficacy beliefs.

  • Ability to delay gratification.

  • Grit.

9.6 (2) Goals and Self-Efficacy

• Challenging goals increase effort and concentration, while overly easy or difficult goals can undermine motivation.

• Self-Efficacy: The expectation that one's efforts lead to success, impacted by manageable challenges.

9.6 (3) Ability to Delay Gratification

• Delay of gratification is linked to life success, exemplified by the “marshmallow study” done by Walter Mischel.

9.6 (4) Understanding Grit

• Grit: Passion and perseverance for long-term goals; serves as a significant predictor of academic success.