Motivation and Emotion

Psychology of Motivation

• Motive- is a stimulus that moves a person to behave in ways designed to accomplish a specific goal.

– What motivates you?

Psychology of Motivation

• Needs– A condition when we require something we lack

– 2 types of needs • Psychological • Biological

• Which is more powerful?

Psychology of Motivation

• Drives– The force that motivates an organism to take

action

– How is drive created?– How is one person more driven than another?

• Theories of Motivation

Instinct Theory

• Instincts- behavior patterns that are genetically transmitted from generation to generation.

– Examples of instincts?– What is an instinct in today’s society for humans?

Drive Reduction Theory

• Based on learning as well as motivation• People and animals experience a drive arising

from a need as an unpleasant tension.

• People will learn to do whatever will reduce the tension by reducing the drive.

Humanistic Theory

• Argument that people are motivated and driven by personal fulfillment more than basic needs.

• People are willing to tolerate pain, hunger, and other kinds of tension to fulfill their goals.

• Self actualization- refers to the need to become what one believes he/she is capable of being. – Striving to become something is essential to human well-

being

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Sociocultural Theory

• Argue that even the most basic drives such as hunger and thirst are cultural experiences.

• This is a very important factor in all of our lives, but just how important?

Biological Needs

• People need food and water to survive

• However, food can mean so much more to a person that just something to shove in their face.

• Food can mark the time of day, month, and mood your in.

The Hunger Drive

• Role of Chewing– Chewing and swallowing sensation for us. – The hunger drive is usually satisfied once the food

is digested and enters the bloodstream, however chewing seems to satisfy that need thus saving us from eating more.

– It is smart to stop eating before you feel like you are going to explode.

The Hunger Drive

• The Role of the Stomach– Hunger pangs, or growling of the stomach is

actually a thing when you are hungry due to stomach contractions.

– Hunger can have effects on mood and actions• Any ideas on examples?

The Hunger Drive

• The Hypothalamus – Level of sugar in the blood plays a key role in

feelings of hunger.

– When blood sugar drops it sends information to the brain which then regulates body temperature

– The “start eating” and “stop eating” sensor in your brain is located here.

Psychological Needs: Stimulus Motives

• Stimulus Motives- Desires for stimulation that include activity, exploration, and manipulation

• Sensory deprivation- the absence of stimulation• Experiment- students blindfolded and bound, put in room

with no sensation.– Results?

– Why do we desire sensory stimulation?

Psychological Needs: Exploration and Manipulation

• Once people become sufficiently comfortable with their environment they seek stimulation?

• Do people manipulate and explore their surroundings for their own survival or because they want the stimulation?

Psychological Motivation: Achievement Motivation

• Achievement Motivation- is what may drive people to tackle challenges and meet high personal standards of success.

• Performance Goals- specific goals that can measure the success of an individual

• Learning Goals- learning for learning’s sake.• Extrinsic Rewards• Intrinsic Rewards

Making things fit

• Cognitive Consistency- people seek to think and behave in a way that fits what they believe.

• Boys and girls• Conservative and Liberal• Religions?

Making Things Fit

• Balance Theory- people need to organize their thoughts, opinions, and beliefs in a harmonious manner.– Why are your closest friends your best friends.

• Imbalance- when somebody disagrees with what you care about

• Nonbalance- when people we do not care about disagrees with us and leaves you feeling indifferent.

Making Things Fit

• Cognitive-dissonance theory- when people have the motivation to do actions that reflect their beliefs.

– Lying– Doing things that don’t reflect your belief

Affiliation

• Affiliation- the desire to be apart of something larger than oneself

– This motivation keeps families, groups and nations together.

– Affiliation may be a sign of anxiety• Why?

Emotions

• Emotions are love, anger, sadness, and other states of feeling

• All emotions are biological, cognitive, and behavioral– Can emotions effect your body?

Happiness

• Everything we do it to attain of gain happiness in our lives. – True or False?

– People who are happier think the world is a happier and safer place

– They also make decisions more readily and report greater satisfaction

Anger

• Anger is a common reaction to insult or attack– Angry people may seek revenge as well

– In a study people said in a course of a week they became angry several times a week while others say they became angry several times a day, why?• Most people were angry with someone close a friend

or a family member that offended them.

• Best way to handle anger???

Theories of Emotion

• The Opponent-Process Theory– Emotions often come in pairs, with one emotion

being followed by another – Extreme happiness followed by extreme sadness– Anxiety followed by relief

Commonsense Approach

• When something happens to a person in a certain situation, the person interprets the situation and a bodily function follows.

– Chad is walking down the street at night when he suddenly sees Ben walking towards him, he is filled with fear and anxiety and pees his pants………..Ben giggles

More Theories

• The Cannon-Bard Theory- States that bodily functions and emotions occur at the same time as a result of an internal stimulus.

• Cognitive Apprasial- The body reacts similar to different emotions