Ch. 1 Flashcards
Motivation
the concept we use when we describe the forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct behavior
Often described as wants, needs, drives, or desires
Instinct vs. Blank Slate vs. Dualistic explanations of behavior
Blank Slate - People have free will and behavior is governed by the rational mind (Aristole)
Dualism - Specifically, the behavior of the body, below the level of willed action, can be explained by instincts, but behaviors that had to do with such things as moral conduct were under the control of the will.
Argued that the body and will interacted to form behavior
(Descartes)
Instincts - Behavior is biologically determined (Darwin)
General Energy
people have one energy source and as it depletes, they cannot focus energy on anything else
Specific Energy
energy is domain specific. People can be tired of working out, but that does not affect their ability to study
Approach or avoidance motivation
Can all motivation be explained by these two broad categories?
What leads people to approach positive outcomes?
What leads people to approach negative outcomes?
Under what conditions would someone do one or the other?
Hot vs. Cold States
Hot system – designed for quick emotional responding to unconditional or conditional triggers
GO, GO, GO!! (FAST)
Cold system – designed for complex rational thought—devoid of emotion
KNOW, KNOW, KNOW! (SLOW)
Homeostasis
The optimal level (balance) for various states of the body
When body deviates too far from this optimal level, motivational circuits are triggered to restore balance
Explains biological drives (eating and sleeping) well, but not higher level motivational states (hunger strike!)
Evolution
the progressive change of organisms across time
Sexual Selection
based on the likelihood that a partner can help them continue their genes into the next generation
Lap dance study—know findings and potential explanation for findings
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Changes in women mate preferences and behavior during estrus (fertile stage)
Meta-analysis of 50 studies and 134 effects
Included studies that assessed preference for indicators of male genetic quality (ability to reproduce) during woman’s fertile stage
Included following characteristics: Facial symmetry, body symmetry, scents associated with body symmetry, structural facial masculinity, male-typical facial movements, facial darkness, structural body masculinity (including muscularity, height, shoulder to hip ratio, strength), male typical body movements, torso hair, vocal masculinity, behavioral dominance (like athletic competition), facial cues associated with testosterone
Women in estrus preferred men with above characteristics when choosing short-term (but not long-term) mating strategies
Misperceptions of interest from the opposite sex study—know the main findings
Our brain evolved to solve adaptive problems in hunter-gatherer societies
Thus some of our functionality may be flawed for the modern world (e.g., propensity toward anxiety)
Just because something is not present at birth doesn’t mean it’s not part of our evolved architecture (e.g., teeth are not learned)
“Innate” is not the opposite of “learned”
More nature allows more nurture
Evolutionary explanations for same-sex attraction
Kin selection? People with especially fertile relatives might best help their gene pool by helping to take care of offspring of their siblings Conflicting empirical support for this Gene by environment interaction Tipping-point hypothesis? Johnny Depp Effect Mechanism for bonding?
