5: Humanistic & Diversity Theories of Motivation

Question 1

Humanistic theories are a reaction to what? What is it now known as?

Answer 1

Psychoanalysis and Freud.

“Positive psychology.”

Question 2

In terms of motivation, humanistic theories propose that humans are what?

Answer 2

Motivated to be happy, achieve self-actualization.

Question 3

What are the hedonistic and eudemonic definitions of happiness?

Answer 3

Hedonistic (subjective) well-being: presence of positive affect, absence of negative affect, life satisfaction.

Eudemonic (psychological) well-being: actualizing your true potential, engaging in life activities congruent with your deeply held values, personal growth.

Question 4

What are Carl Rogers’ seven propositions?

Answer 4

1. All individuals (organisms) exist in continually changing world of experience (phenomenal field) of which they are the center.
2. Organism reacts to field as experience, perceptual field is “reality.”
3. Organism reacts as organized whole to phenomenal field.
4. Portion of perceptual field becomes differentiated as self.
5. Structure of self is formed via interaction with environment and others, together with values attached to concepts of “I” and “me.”
6. Organism has one basic tendency and striving - actualize, maintain, enhance the experiencing organism.*
7. Best vantage point for understanding behaviour from internal frame of reference of individual.

Question 5

Frankl believed that the primary motivating factor in humans was what? What is the opposite of it?

Answer 5

Pursuit of meaning.

Existential vacuum: feeling of meaninglessness.

Question 6

Self-determination theory denotes two kinds of motivation. What are they?

Answer 6

Extrinsic Motivation: performing actions for external reinforcement or to avoid punishment.

Intrinsic Motivation: self-reinforcing experiences, no outside motivation or incentive is needed.

Question 7

_____ motivation is the energizing basis for natural organismic activity.

Answer 7

Intrinsic.

Question 8

A meta-analysis on intrinsic motivation suggested what about external rewards?

Answer 8

External rewards may increase behaviour, but they often reduce intrinsic motivation, thus reducing eudemonic well-being and likelihood to continue behaviour.

Question 9

What are the three proposed needs that drive intrinsic motivation?

Answer 9

Autonomy: feeling that one is free of external pressures, able to make choices in self-directed way freely without coercion.

Competence: taking on challenging tasks, experiencing a sense of mastery when overcoming them and meeting goals.

Relatedness: caring for others, to feel that others are relating to the self authentically, and to feel satisfying involvement with social world.

Question 10

Define the following three mini-theories:

• Cognitive Evaluation Theory
• Organismic Integration Theory
• Basic Psychological Need Theory

Answer 10

Cognitive Evaluation Theory: meeting autonomy & competence needs increases intrinsic motivation.

Organismic Integration Theory: behaviours not intrinsically interesting or enjoyable usually only performed for extrinsic reasons. However, behaviours that start out extrinsic can become more intrinsic if they meet core needs.

Basic Psychological Need Theory: the 3 basic needs are innate, universal, lead to eudemonic well-being.

Question 11

Causality orientation theory proposes that preferences in motivation can lead to more stable aspects of personality. These affect how people approach motivation in general. What are the three orientations?

Answer 11

Autonomous orientation: regulate behavior as function of personal interests/values.

Controlled orientation: regulate behavior by looking for controls and prompts in environment.

Impersonal orientation: helplessness, detachment, lack intentionality in action.

Question 12

Define goal content theory and relationship motivation theory.

Answer 12

Goal Content Theory: intrinsic values, goals and aspirations emerge from the 3 basic needs. Pursuit and attainment of intrinsic values meets basic needs, thus increases well-being.

Relationship Motivation Theory: for relatedness to be met, both partners in relationship must meet autonomy & competence needs of each other (i.e., mutuality).

Question 13

Humanistic theories propose that striving towards _____ is the primary motivating force in humans.

Answer 13

Eudemonic well-being.

Question 14

What is the diversity view of motivation?

Answer 14

No single set of motives drives human behaviour, people motivated by multiple different things simultaneously.

Question 15

Per Murray’s theory of needs, what is a need? What are the two types of need and how many of each are there?

Answer 15

Abstract constructs within the organism to organize perceiving, thinking, feeling, striving, behaviour.

Viserogenic needs: physiological necessities and desires (food, air, sleep). ~13

Psychogenic needs: psychological needs such as autonomy, achievement, affiliation, dominance. ~20

Question 16

Per Murray’s theory of needs, what is press? What are the two types?

Answer 16

The various situational constraints and opportunities for need expression.

Alpha press: refers to actual, objective reality.

Beta press: refers to subjective perceived reality.

Question 17

Per Murray’s theory of needs, what is thema?

Answer 17

Occurs when particular need interacts with particular press over extended period of time. Motivation can be understood as interaction between needs and press to produce themas.

Question 18

Needs produce a certain tension until they are resolved. Press can either _____ or _____ the ability of a person to meet those needs.

Answer 18

Facilitate; frustrate.

Question 19

List three psychogenic needs.

Answer 19

Exhibition: to make an impression, be seen and heard.

Play: act for “fun” without further purpose.

Understanding: to ask and answer general questions.

Question 20

A thematic apperception test is an example of what?

Answer 20

A projection task.

Question 21

What happens in a thematic apperception test?

Answer 21

Tell a short story from an ambiguous picture.

Question 22

List two ways in which themes are operationalized when measuring from a thematic apperception test.

Answer 22

Coding scheme: list of rules and examples that all people reading the story are to follow, various themes are coded on a numeric scale.

Multiple raters: examine same story, compare ratings for inter-rater reliability.

Question 23

The TAT is thought to measure psychogenic needs, or simply “motives.” What are the three?

Answer 23

Achievement motives: doing better and overcoming challenges.

Power motives: having impact on others and society.

Intimacy motivation: becoming closer and caring for others.

Question 24

List three elements of achievement motivation.

Answer 24

Intense, prolonged, repeated efforts to accomplish something difficult.

To work with singleness of purpose towards a high and distant goal.

Have the determination to succeed, but for oneself rather than dominating others.

Question 25

List five correlates of achievement motivation.

Answer 25

Prefer moderately challenging activities.

Self-control, inhibition, delay of gratification.

Success in business, social mobility, education.

Internal locus of control.

May break rules to maximize productivity.

Question 26

List four elements of power motivation.

Answer 26

Wants to control and influence others.

Likes to win arguments.

Enjoys competition and winning.

Enjoys status and recognition.

Question 27

List four correlates of power motivation.

Answer 27

Holding elected office, other positions of power over others.

Accumulation of prestige possessions.

Effective organizational leader.

Men may be more impulsive, aggressive, have more unstable romantic relations.

Question 28

List three elements of intimacy motivation.

Answer 28

Wants to belong to the group.

Wants to be liked, will often go along with whatever rest of the group wants to do.

Favors collaboration over competition.

Question 29

List five correlates of intimacy motivation.

Answer 29

Partake in more friendly conversations with others.

Values close one-on-one relationships.

Higher in self-disclosure.

Better listeners.

Generally risk averse, prefer collaborative challenges where everyone involved equally.

Question 30

Motives coded from the TAT are _____ whereas self-reported motives are _____.

Answer 30

Implicit; explicit.

Question 31

What is the difference between implicit and explicit motives?

Answer 31

Not consciously aware of implicit motives; level 2, characteristic adaptations.

Explicit motives are aspects of self we are aware of; closer to level 1, dispositional traits.

Question 32

Explicit measures are better when predicting average _____ over time, but implicit measures may be useful in a given situation.

Answer 32

Behaviour.

Question 33

How do humanistic / positive psychology theories of motivation differ from psychodynamic theories of motivation?

Answer 33

Humanistic theories propose people are motivated to achieve happiness and self-actualization, tending to focus on conscious experience.

Psychodynamic proposes people are motivated by unconscious conflicts/desires that bubble up in unexpected ways, highlights the importance of the unconscious.