Module 1

Chapter Learning Goals

Chapter 1 — Introduction

  • CLG 1.1 — Define motivation and explain how it gives behavior energy, direction, and persistence.

  • CLG 1.2 — Distinguish internal motives from external events that influence behavior.

  • CLG 1.3 — Identify the major expressions used to infer motivation, including behavior, engagement, psychophysiology, brain activation, and self-report.

  • CLG 1.4 — Explain core themes of motivational science, including approach–avoidance and adaptation.

  • CLG 1.5 — Apply the basic motivational framework to explain everyday behavior.

Chapter 2 — Historical Perspective

  • CLG 2.1 — Describe early philosophical and theoretical foundations of motivation.

  • CLG 2.2 — Compare major historical theories of will, instinct, and drive.

  • CLG 2.3 — Explain the shift from grand theories to contemporary motivational models.

  • CLG 2.4 — Describe the influence of cognitive and applied approaches.

  • CLG 2.5 — Evaluate how contemporary motivation science integrates biological, cognitive, and social factors.



Textbook notes (9/14 - 9/15)

Ch 1

WHAT IS MOTIVATION? IS IT IMPORTANT?

  • Motivation : want change in self or environment (simple definition)

  • Motivation is important to understanding yourself and others, as well as get things done

  • Sixteen Motivational Reasons to …

    1. Intrinsic motivation

    2. Extrinsic motivation

    3. Flow

    4. External regulation

    5. Goal

    6. Value

    7. Hope

    8. Possible self

    9. Achievement strivings

    10. Competence

    11. Opponent process

    12. Positive affect

    13. Introjection

    14. Personal control

    15. Relatedness

    16. Well-Being

Motivational Science

  • Studying motivation is considered behavioral or social science

    • “…questions require objective, data-based, empirical evidence gained from well-conducted and peer-reviewed research findings.”

    • “…embraces rigorous empirical methods: Testable hypotheses, clear conceptual and operational definitions of each construct, observational methods, and statistical analyses to evaluate each hypothesis objectively.”

  • Answer “Why?”

    • without “why”, we rely on behavior

  • to understand well-being

    • relations that exist among other concepts

    • what adds/subtracts

    • consequences

    • why are there these relations?

  • need theories → and hypothesis → research study → data

  • valid theories → real world applications

WHAT CAUSES BEHAVIOR?

  • Why?

  • six specific questions:

    • Why does behavior start?

    • Once begun, why is behavior sustained over time?

    • Why is behavior directed toward some goals yet away from others?

    • Why does behavior change its direction?

    • Why does behavior vary in its intensity?

    • Why does behavior stop?

  • don’t just ask why. go further

Subject matter

  • what gives behavior energy and direction

  • The study of motivation concerns those internal processes that give behavior its energy, direction, and persistence.

  • Energy gives behavior strength—it is strong, intense, and resilient.

  • Direction gives behavior purpose—it is aimed toward a particular goal or outcome.

  • Persistence gives behavior endurance—it sustains behavior over time.

  • “...motives are internal experiences—needs, cognitions, and emotions.”

  • Internal motives

    • “A motive is an internal process that energizes, directs, and sustains behavior.”

    • Needs

      • “Needs are conditions within the individual whose satisfaction is essential and necessary for the maintenance of life and for the nurturance of growth and well-being.”

      • needs generate want/desire to do behavior to fill need and a satisfaction

      • two types of needs: biological and psychological

    • Cognitions

      • “Cognitions are mental events, such as thoughts, beliefs, expectations, plans, goals, strategies, appraisals, attributions, and the self-concept.”

      • “four types of motivated cognition: plans and goals …, mindsets …, beliefs and expectations …, and the self ….”

    • Emotions

      • “Emotions are complex but coordinated feeling-arousal–purposive–expressive reactions to the significant events in our lives.”

        • Feelings: Subjective, verbal descriptions of emotional experience.

        • Arousal: Bodily mobilization to cope with situational demands.

        • Purpose: Motivational urge to accomplish something specific at that moment.

        • Expression: Nonverbal communication of our emotional experience to others.

      • “…emotions allow us to adapt successfully to the important events in our lives, such as a challenge or a threat.”

      • “…each emotion does serve a distinct motivational function.”

  • External Events and Social Contexts

    • “…environmental, social, and cultural circumstances that affect a person’s internal motives.”

    • external events are not the direct source of motivation. dopamine and cognitive expectations → behavior

  • Motivation or Influence?

    • not the same

EXPRESSIONS OF MOTIVATION


FRAMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND MOTIVATION AND EMOTION

TEN UNIFYING THEMES

Summary

Ch 2

PHILOSOPHICAL BEGINNINGS

GRAND THEORIES

  • Will

  • Instict

  • Drive

  • Freud’s Drive Theory

  • Hull’s Drive Theory

  • Decline of Drive Theory

  • Post-drive Theory Years

RISE OF THE MINI-THEORIES

  • Active Nature of the Person

  • Cognitive Revolution

  • Socially Relevant Questions

THE CRISIS

THE COMEBACK

BRIEF HISTORY OF EMOTION STUDY

CONCLUSION TO THE STORY

SUMMARY

Module notes