Ch 02 - History of Motivation Flashcards
Aristotle’s Theory of Motivation included 4 causes (EFFM):
(1) Efficient - __ behavior; includes __ & __
(2) Final - the __ of the behavior
(3) Formal - incorporation of motivation into __ of behavior such as evolutionary theory (i.e., those things that enhance __ of the species).
(4) Material - __ of the motivation (i.e. the brain)
triggers; motives (internal); incentives (external)
goal
theories; survival
substance
An example of Aristotle’s Theory of Motivation:
Seeing candy triggers eating because it provides nourishment (glucose) which enhances chances of survival of the brain (which anticipates the pleasure of sweetness).
Identify which part of the example is the efficient, final, formal, and material causes for motivation.
Efficient - seeing candy (incentive that triggers behavior)
Final - nourishment / glucose (obtaining this is the goal)
Formal - enhances chances of survival
Material - anticipation in the brain
Ancient Greeks used the term __ to describe the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain; but they meant it in the context of the __ __.
Today, __ is used to describe the __ pleasures we experience with such things as food, drink, and sex.
hedonism; greater good.
hedonism; sensory
__ posited that a person should follow a course in which pleasure exceeds pain; and that the only reason not to is that you don’t fully __ the pleasure or pain that can result from that behavior.
We now know it is __ possible for someone to understand the pain that will result after the pleasure (e.g. a hangover), but not understand on a __ level (e.g., impaired judgment after a few drinks leads to more drinking which causes the hangover).
Socrates; understand
intellectually; visceral
__ posited that things are __ if we engage in them and __ if we avoid them.
We know now that this isn’t always true: we may do things which are painful, like working out, because of a __ to maintain fitness; or we may do something unpleasant, like chores, if we have an __.
Democritus; pleasurable; painful
goal; obligation
T or F: Aristotle’s, Socrates’, and Democritus’ theories boiled down to “Eat, drink, and be merry!”.
False; they preached moderation
The ideal result is brought by __.
moderation
This type of motivation states that positive incentives are approached for the pleasurable feelings they produce; negative incentives are avoided because they produce unpleasant feelings.
Incentive motivation
__ are in the future, so desire of an __ (or for the greater __) must outweigh the desire for immediate __.
For example, watching YouTube (immediate __) vs. studying to pass this class (which is the __ / for the greater __).
Incentives; incentive; good; pleasure
pleasure; incentive; good
The Principle of __ states that actions are determined by whether they increase or decrease happiness. An object has __ if it benefits us or helps us avoid pain.
An example of an object that has __ is money; however, its __ is based on the __ - it’s useless if you stuck on an island.
Utility
utility
utility; utility; environment
This philosophy proposed by Thorndike states that observable consequences guide behavior.
Law of effect.
Thorndike’s Law of __ is similar to Watson’s behaviorism, except that Thorndike’s law is based on personal satisfaction (or __ states of being) while behaviorism focuses on actual consequences (__).
Effect; internal; external
Thorndike emphasized __ __ (similar to hedonism) in his proposed Law of effect; whereas today the Law of Effect is objective and based on __, observable events.
For example: Thorndike emphasized the “__” a cat felt escaping the box, but today psychologists emphasize __ (which increase behavior) and __ (which decrease behavior).
internal satisfaction; external
“pleasure”; rewards; punishers
__ are internal stimuli that produce a specific pattern of behavior (“__ action patterns”) in a species. __ have survival value and are not influenced by __. An example includes the “__” reflex in newborns - stroking their cheek will provoke them to move their mouth towards the stimulus.
Instincts; “fixed”
Instincts; learning
“rooting”
What three things are studied in evolutionary psychology?
What do they attempt to explain?
genetics, human nature, and instincts
explain current behavior in terms of our evolutionary past.