AP Psychology : Motivation

MotivationMotivation – an internal state that

activates behavior and directs it toward a goal.

Social MotivesOpening Activity: A recent study

indicated that 70 percent of high school students and 56 percent of middle school students have cheated on an exam in the past year.

What do you think is the primary motivation for cheating in high school? Explain your answer.

MotivationTypes Motivation

◦Drives versus motives

MotivationTypes Motivation

◦Drives versus motives◦Intrinsic motivation◦Extrinsic motivation

Theories of MotivationTheories of Motivation

◦Instinct theory (inherited) Fixed action patterns Theoretical problems

Theories of MotivationDrive-Reduction Theory (biological)

◦Biological needs◦Homeostasis◦Theoretical problems

Theories of MotivationCognitive theory (mind)

◦Social learning theory Julian Rotter◦Locus of control Internal locus

Self- efficacy External locus

Theories of MotivationPsychodynamic Theory (Freud)

◦Sex drive (eros)◦Death drive (thanatos)

Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsDiscussion: Imagine you and your

friends are stranded on a deserted island. The island is in the northern Atlantic, and it is September. There are no other people, buildings, electricity on the island; however, there is vegetation and some small game animals.

List the first several steps that you would take to secure your groups survival on the island.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (humanistic)

Theories of Motivation

A Hierarchy of Motives

A Hierarchy of Motives

A Hierarchy of Motives

A Hierarchy of Motives

A Hierarchy of Motives

A Hierarchy of Motives

A Hierarchy of Motives

Theories of MotivationReflection: Which theory of

motivation best describes your motivation to go to college? Explain your answer.

Theories of MotivationIn scoring, responses placed before

items 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, and 14 should be reversed (6 = 1, 5 = 2, 4 = 3, 3 = 4, 2 = 5, 1 = 6) and then added to the responses before the rest of the items. Total scores can range from 15 to 90. College students have a mean score of about 60.

Theories of MotivationA gender difference in the scores

approached significance, with females scoring slightly higher than males. Factor analysis identified at least four factors measured by the scale: autonomy, self-acceptance, acceptance of emotions, and trust and responsibility in interpersonal relations.

Theories of MotivationThe index was also correlated with

other scales. According to these other scales, high scorers on the index tend to live in the present, rather than in the past with guilt and regret or in the future with over idealized goals and fears. High scorers also tend to be inner-directed, extraverted, and rational in their thoughts and behaviors.

Theories of MotivationOpening Activity: Thematic Apperception

Test (TAT)

Theories of MotivationAchievement Motivation

◦ Psychological motive◦ Operates at a conscious level◦ Affected by culture

Individualist versus collectivist

Theories of MotivationThematic Apperception Test (TAT)

◦ Murray & McClelland◦ Measures themes of story◦ n Ach score

Characteristics of high scores Persistence Higher IQ’s Leadership More successful and competitive

Theories of MotivationHunger Motivation

◦ Multi-System Approach Hypothalamus

Theories of MotivationHunger Motivation

◦ Multi-System Approach Hypothalamus Set point Sweet & high fat foods

Theories of MotivationHunger Motivation

◦ Multi-System Approach Hypothalamus Set point Sweet & high fat foods Fat cells

Theories of MotivationHunger Motivation

◦ Multi-System Approach Hypothalamus Set point Sweet & high fat foods Fat cells Other triggers and environmental cues

(group discussion)

Weight Discrimination

Theories of MotivationEating disorders

◦ Anorexia nervosa◦ Bulimia nervosa◦ Environmental and biological

Theories of MotivationHuman Sexuality

◦ Alfred Kinsey (video clip)◦ Masters and Johnson

Theories of MotivationHuman Sexuality

◦ Alfred Kinsey (video clip)◦ Masers and Johnson

Theories of MotivationHuman Sexuality

◦ Alfred Kinsey (video clip)◦ Masters and Johnson◦ Testosterone◦ Sexual cues◦ Sexual scripts

Theories of Motivation

Theories of Motivation

Theories of MotivationThe Stress Response

◦ Stress versus stressor◦ Primitive stressors

Starvation Exposure Mortal attack

◦ “fight or flight”◦ Limbic system

Amygdala and Hypothalamus◦ “tend or befriend”

Theories of MotivationTraumatic stressors

◦ Catastrophe◦ Five stages

Psychic numbness Automatic action Communal effort Letdown Recovery

◦ Posttraumatic Stress (PTSD)

Theories of MotivationGeneral Adaption Syndrome (Hans Selye’s)

◦ Three Stages Alarm reaction Resistance Exhaustion

Theories of MotivationStress and the immune system

◦Type A = competitive, impatient, perfectionist

◦Type B = Relaxed approachLearned helplessness