Unit 4.6 Review – Social Psychology and Personality - Motivation

Overview

Unit 4.6 focuses on different theories of motivation, explaining how internal drives, external incentives, and cognitive conflicts shape behavior. It also explores how biological and social factors influence eating and our need for belonging.

1. Core Motivation Theories

These are the big-picture ideas behind why we do anything—whether it’s eating, studying, or seeking adventure. Practice matching terms to examples!

Drive-Reduction Theory

  • You’re motivated to fix imbalances in your body.

  • Driven by needs (hunger, thirst) → creates a drive → behavior fixes it → back to homeostasis.

  • Example: Hunger makes you go get food.

Arousal Theory + Yerkes-Dodson Law

  • Motivation comes from finding the right amount of stimulation (not too bored, not too stressed).

  • Yerkes-Dodson Law: Best performance happens at moderate arousal.

    • Easy tasks → benefit from higher arousal

    • Difficult tasks → need lower arousal

  • Example: A little test anxiety helps focus, but too much shuts you down.

2. Cognitive & Social Approaches to Motivation

These build more on mental processes and goal-directed thinking.

Self-Determination Theory

  • Motivation comes from either:

    • Intrinsic: doing something because you enjoy it (e.g., drawing for fun)

    • Extrinsic: doing it for a reward or to avoid punishment (e.g., studying for a prize)

Incentive Theory

  • Explains how external rewards (or punishments) drive behavior.

    • Positive incentives: motivation to do something (e.g., praise, money)

    • Negative incentives: motivation to avoid (e.g., fines, scolding)

  • Stronger or more meaningful incentives usually increase motivation.

3. Biological vs Learned Behaviors

This is about instinct vs learning—focus on animals vs humans.

Instinct Theory

  • Instincts: hardwired behaviors in animals (e.g., bird nests, salmon swimming upstream)

  • Humans don’t rely on instincts the same way, but may show basic patterns like:

    • Rooting reflex in babies

    • Fear of loud noises

  • Human behavior is often learned, flexible, and shaped by culture and experience.

4. Motivational Conflict (Lewin’s Theory)

Sometimes motivation is shaped by how we deal with choices—weighing pros and cons. Expect example-based questions here!

  • Approach-Approach Conflict: Choosing between two good options (e.g., two colleges you love)

  • Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict: Choosing between two bad options (e.g., vacuum or do homework)

  • Approach-Avoidance Conflict: One choice has pros and cons (e.g., a great job offer far from home)

5. Sensation-Seeking Motivation

Some people are wired to chase new or risky experiences. This helps explain behaviors like traveling, extreme sports, or rule-breaking.

  • Experience Seeking: Desiring new ideas or lifestyles

  • Thrill and Adventure Seeking: Craving excitement (e.g., skydiving)

  • Disinhibition: Enjoying “loosening up” in social settings or risky behavior

  • Boredom Susceptibility: Getting restless or irritated with repetition

6. Eating as Motivated Behavior

Eating is driven by a mix of internal signals from the body and external cues from the environment. Know both types!

Biological Factors

  • Ghrelin: triggers hunger

  • Leptin: signals fullness

  • Both are regulated by the hypothalamus (via pituitary gland)

Environmental & Psychological Factors

  • Food availability — we eat even if not hungry

  • Time of day — we eat out of routine

  • Social settings — people eat more in groups

7. Belongingness as Motivation

Humans are naturally driven to form connections—relationships improve mental and emotional health.

  • Feeling accepted drives behavior (joining clubs, following group norms)

  • Social connection = better health and well-being

  • Lack of belonging can lead to anxiety or demotivation

Key Takeaways

Drive-Reduction Theory explains behavior as a way to return to homeostasis.

Arousal Theory and the Yerkes-Dodson Law show that performance is best with moderate arousal, depending on task difficulty.

Self-Determination Theory separates motivation into intrinsic (internal) and extrinsic (external) factors.

Incentive Theory emphasizes how rewards and punishments guide behavior.

Instinct theory applies mostly to animals—human behavior is more learned and flexible.

Lewin’s Motivational Conflicts include approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, and approach-avoidance.

Sensation-Seeking Theory explains behavior motivated by novelty and risk.

Eating is influenced by hormones like ghrelin and leptin, as well as social and environmental cues.

Belongingness drives social behavior and impacts mental health and motivation.