Motivation and Emotion

Motivation

• a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior

• Includes physiological & psychological factors that cause us to act a certain way

MOTIVATIONAL CONCEPTS

Four perspectives: *Instinct theory *Drive reduction

theory*Arousal theory

*Incentive theory

1. Instinct Theory(Evolutionary

perspective)• we are motivated

by our inborn automated behaviors.

• But instincts only explain why we do a small fraction of our behaviors.

2. Drive-Reduction Theory• The interaction between inner pushes

and external pulls• a “physiological” (bodily) need creates

a psychological state (a “drive”) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need

Drive-reducingbehaviors

(eating, drinking)

Need(e.g., for

food, water)

Drive(hunger, thirst)

Drive Reduction Theory• We do things to fulfill

a NEED.• Psychological or

physiological

• Drive to maintain homeostasis.• Normal, balanced

internal state

• When we are not at our homeostasis, we have a need that creates a drive.

3. Arousal Theory

• We are more than a homeostatic system

• Our biological rhythms cycle through times of arousal

• rather than reducing a physiological (bodily) need some motivated behaviors increase arousal.

4. Incentive Theory

• Stresses the role of environment in motivating behavior– Goals, Reinforcers, Rewards

• A positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior. (example: to work and earn those “A”’s so more scholarships are available, or work hard & be more productive to get a pay raises, promotion, etc.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• Abraham Maslow said we are motivated by needs, and all needs are not created equal.

• We are driven to satisfy the lower (basic) level needs first.

Maslow Hierarchy of Needs

Motivation of HUNGER

Is Hunger more Nature or Nurture?

Nature• Brain & body Chemistry

– Homeostasis

Nurture• Taste Preference

– Biological?– Culturally based?

• Where you are from determines what foods you like

• Bored or Stressed– Eat to pass time or– Eat to calm down

Biological Basis of Hunger

• Hunger does NOT come from our stomach.

It comes from our…• Brain

What part of the brain?

• The Hypothalamus

HypothalamusLateral Hypothalamus• When stimulated it

makes you hungry.• When lesioned

(destroyed) you will never be hungry again.

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

• When stimulated you feel full.

• When lesioned you will never feel full again.

Set Point Theory

• The hypothalamus acts like a thermostat.

• Wants to maintain a stable weight.

• Activate the lateral when you diet and activate the ventromedial when you start to gain weight.

Body Chemistry

• Glucose

• The hormone insulin converts glucose to fat.

• When glucose levels drop- hunger increases.

Eating Disorders

Anorexia NervosaAnorexia Nervosa

Click on the woman to watch a case study of an anorexic.

• Characterized by:– Refusal to eat– Extreme weight loss– Lack of proper nutrition– Fear of gaining weight– Distorted body image

• Starve themselves to below 85% of their normal body weight.

• Vast majority are woman.

Bulimia NervosaBulimia Nervosa

• Characterized by binging – eating large amounts of

food

• and purging – getting rid of the food.

• Excessive concern over body shape & weight

• Often experiences depression, anxiety, or mood swings

• Psychological Explanation:– Feelings of alienation– Need for approval

Obesity

• Severely overweight to the point where it causes health issues.

• Mostly eating habits but some people are predisposed towards obesity.

Click on the pictures to see some case studies on obesity.

Sexual Motivation

• Sex is natural.

• Without sex, none of us would be here.

• How do scientists (or you) find out about sex?

YOU ASK!!!!!!

Psychological Factors in Sexual Motivation

• Only some people are externals when it comes to hunger- but we are all externals when it comes to sex.

• People can find sexually explicit images either pleasing or disturbing- but they are none the less biologically arousing.

Sexual Orientation

An enduring sexual attraction toward members of either one's own gender or the other gender.

Prenatal Environment

• Current research seems to point to the hormonal levels in the prenatal environment.

• We have created homosexual male fruit flies and lesbian sheep!!!

How is Sexual Orientation Determined

• There has been NO evidence that sexuality is socially determined.

• Kids raised by gay parents are no more likely to be gay that if they were raised by hetero parents.

• This it is likely biologically determined.

The Brain

• Simon LeVay discovered that there is a cluster of cells in the hypothalamus that is larger in heterosexual men than in heterosexual women or homosexual men.

Masters and Johnson Study• In the 1960’s William

Masters and Virginia Johnson set out to explore the physiology of sex.

• 382 females and 312 males.

After their research was done they ran an institute that claimed to turn gay people straight.

Click on Masters and Johnson to see a more detailed explanation of their research.

Kinsey’s Studies• Confidential interviews

with 18,000 people (in early 1950’s).

• Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female

• Scale of sexuality….0 to 6 where 0 is exclusively heterosexual and 6 homosexual and 7 is asexual.

Click on Kinsey to see the movie trailer.

Mapped out the Sexual Response Cycle

• Initial Excitement• Plateau Phase• Orgasm• Resolution Phase

(with refractory period).

Need to Belong

• We are deeply motivated to bond with others that are important to us.

• We bond together to reproduce and raise offspring.

• Belonging creatures meaning in our lives

• We are social creatures

• We seek social acceptance and inclusion.

Achievement MotivationWhat motivates us to work?

(School, job, sports, video games, relationships etc..)

Intrinsic Motivators• Rewards we get

internally, such as enjoyment or satisfaction.

Extrinsic Motivators• Reward that we get for

accomplishments from outside ourselves (grades or money or etc..)

• Work great in the short run.

Management TheoryManagement/Teaching styles relate closely to

Intrinsic/Extrinsic Motivators.Theory X

• Managers believes that employees will work only if rewarded with benefits or threatened with punishment.

• Think employees are Extrinsically Motivated.

• Only interested in Maslow’s lower needs.

Theory Y• Managers believe that

employees are internally motivated to do good work and policies should encourage this internal motive.

• Interested in Maslow’s higher needs.

When Motives Conflict

• approach-approach conflict

• avoidance-avoidance conflict

• approach-avoidance conflict

• Multiple approach-avoidance conflicts

Seyle’s General Adaptation Syndrome

• Describes our response to a stressful event.

• Three stages1. Alarm2. Resistance3. Exhaustion