Motivation

Definition of Motivation

• Motivation is defined as the internal causes of purposeful behavior.

• Key roles played by:

  • Instincts

  • Drives

Instincts

• Nature provides specific motivations while experiences provide others.

• Instinct: A natural tendency to pursue a particular goal that does not require teaching or conscious thought.

• Behaviorist Perspective: Rejects unobservable phenomena such as instincts, claiming that complex behaviors are learned rather than innate.

• Example: Bulls chasing runners in Pamplona are acting on instinct without prior teaching.

Drives

• Behaviorists found a limitation in explaining phenomena that relate to internal states.

• An example is a rat wandering due to an internal drive rather than an external stimulus.

• Drive-Reduction Theory: Suggests the primary motivation of organisms is to reduce drives (internal states of tension).

• For instance, animals do not find food inherently rewarding; they seek food to reduce hunger (drive).

Hedonic Principle

• According to the Hedonic Principle, people are primarily motivated to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

• Emotion Regulation strategies are used to influence emotional experiences.

  • Behavioral Strategies: Avoiding situations that provoke unwanted emotions.

  • Cognitive Strategies: Using memories that foster desired emotions.

Emotion Regulation Techniques

• Suppression: Inhibiting the outward signs of an emotion.

• Affect Labeling: Articulating one’s feelings verbally.

• Reappraisal: A method for changing emotional experiences by altering mindset regarding stimuli.

  • Reappraisal can be learned and is linked to emotional well-being.

Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

• Individuals experience fulfillment when needs are met, organized into a hierarchy:

  • Lowest levels represent the most pressing human needs, while highest levels are less essential.

  • Needs must be met sequentially from bottom to top.

Hunger and Hormones

• Ghrelin: Hormone from the stomach signaling the brain to induce hunger.

• Leptin: Secreted by fat cells, signaling satiety.

• There may not be a uniform drive for hunger but multiple drives responding to various deficits.

Brain's Regulation of Hunger

• Hypothalamus manages hunger signals:

  • Lateral hypothalamus: Receives hunger-on signals (hungry center).

  • Ventromedial hypothalamus: Receives hunger-off signals (satiety center).

Eating Disorders

• Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Characterized by uncontrolled excessive eating often linked to emotional states.

• Bulimia Nervosa: Binge eating followed by compensatory behavior (e.g., vomiting).

• Anorexia Nervosa: Intense fear of weight gain leading to severe food restriction and distorted self-image.

• Factors influencing eating disorders: Genetic, experiential, psychological, and cultural perceptions of beauty.

Obesity

• Defined by a BMI of 30 or greater.

• Associated with health risks, lower psychological well-being, and negative social perceptions.

• Causes of Obesity:

  • Evolutionary mismatch with modern lifestyles.

  • Preference for high-energy foods and ability to store fat.

  • Influences of emotion and social context on eating.

Sexual Desire

• Not essential for personal survival but vital for the passage of DNA.

• Hormonal secretions influence sexual interest.

  • Different variables affect sexual drive uniquely.

The Motivated Mind

• Survival and reproduction are significant but human motivation extends beyond basic biological needs.

• Psychological motivations are varied and unique to humans.

Extrinsic Motivation

• Defined as seeking rewards from actions.

• The ability to delay gratification for greater future rewards is notably human.

Intrinsic Motivation

• Represents motivation derived from the actions themselves being rewarding.

• Intrinsically motivated individuals tend to work harder and enjoy tasks more.

• External rewards can dilute intrinsic motivation over time.

Approach vs. Avoidance Motivation

• Approach Motivation: The drive to achieve positive outcomes.

• Avoidance Motivation: The urge to prevent negative outcomes; often stronger than approach motivation (e.g., loss aversion).

Loss Aversion

• Refers to the phenomenon where people prioritize avoiding losses over acquiring equivalent gains, evident in consumer behavior (e.g., responses to incentives or disincentives).