Ch. 11 What Drives Us Flashcards
motivation
a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior
instinct
a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned
psychological need
a basic-bodily requirement
drive-reduction theory
the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused state that motivates an organism to satisfy the need
homeostasis
tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as glucose, around a particular level
incentive
a positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior
Yerkes-Dodson law
the principle that performance increases with arousal only up to a point, beyond which performance decreases
hierarchy of needs
Maslow’s pyramid of human needs, beginning at the base with physiological needs that must first be satisfied before people can fulfill their higher-level safety needs and then psychological needs
glucose
the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for body tissues
set point
the point at which the “weight thermostat” may be set. when the body falls below this weight, increases hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may combine to restore lost weight
basal metabolic rate
the body’s resting rate of energy output
obesity
defined as body mass index measurement of 30 or higher, which is calculated from our weight-to-height ratio
testosterone
most important male sex hormone. additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs during the fetal period, and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty
estrogens
sex hormones, such as estradiol, that contribute to female sex characteristics and are secreted in greater amounts by females than by males. estrogen levels peak during ovulation. In nonhuman mammals, this promotes sexual receptivity.
sexual response cycle
the four stages of sexual responding described by Masters and Johnson - excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution
