motivation - psych final FRQ

Motivation: a psychological process that directs and maintains behavior towards a goal.
Instinct: complex, inherited behavior patterns characteristic of a species that is unlearned.

Drive-reduction theory: the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need.

Homeostasis: a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level.

Need: a necessity, especially a physiological.

Desire: something that is wanted, but not needed.
Arousal: the level of alertness, wakefulness, an activation caused by activity in the CNS.

Yerkes-Dodson Law of Arousal: people perform best at a moderate level of arousal.

Incentive theory: people are motivated by a desire to obtain external incentives.
1. Incentive: a positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior.
2. Primary incentives: motivates behavior to satisfy a physiological need.
3. Secondary incentive: motivates behavior to satisfy a desire.

Overjustification effect: the effect of promising a reward for doing what one already likes to do and then losing interest in it.

Hunger Motivation

Lateral hypothalamus (LH): the “on” button for eating. *Remember: If it is lesioned, people will not feel hungry and they feel less hunger (LH).

Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH): the “off” button for eating. *Remember: If it is lesioned, people will not feel full and they will become very much hunger (VMH)

Sexual Motivation

Sexual response cycle: the four stages of sexual responding described by Masters and Johnson– excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.

Refractory period: a resting period after orgasm, during which a man cannot achieve another orgasm.
Sexual orientation: sexual attraction toward members of either one’s own sex (homosexual orientation), both sexes (bisexual), any sex/gender (pansexual orientation), or the opposite sex (heterosexual orientation).

Kinsey Scale: One of the first theories to place human sexuality, conducted in the 1950s. 

Twin Studies: Twin studies show there is a genetic link related to sexual orientation.