Ch 12 - Economics of Motivation Flashcards
The “cost of achievement” includes:
- __ (such as brain resources)
- The number of __ (going through 8 ppt slides)
- __ it takes to achieve.
- energy / brain resources
- number of responses (qty; going through an 8-slide .ppt)
- time
Tolman stated this principle where “final choices of alternative means-routes will always tend to occur in the direction of a minimum expenditure of physical energy.”
The Tolman Principle of Least Effort
In one word, what does the Tolman Principle of Least Effort state? What is it NOT?
Efficiency; laziness
This principle is similar to Tolman’s, however, it relates to cognitive energy, not physical energy.
Zipf’s Principle of Least Effort
Zipf’s Principle of Least effort says 2 things about the use of words:
- Frequently used words have more __ than infrequently used words.
- __ words are use less frequently than __ words.
meaning
longer; shorter
The word fridge being used instead of refrigerator is an example of what?
The word run can be used to describe a physical activity, an application, pursuit of public office, etc.. What is this an example of?
Zipf’s Principle of Least Effort (x2)
Taking opportunities to save time and effort is known as __ __.
List 2 examples: one using food, the other using navigating through campus.
Behavioral economizing
Instead of cooking, you order fast food; and instead of staying on the path, you cut through the grass.
In __ economizing, one follows the rules to make __ easer.
It means planning, problem solving, and making __ with the __ amount of effort.
cognitive; decisions
decisions; least
3 examples of cognitive economizing include avoiding choice __ (too many choices), __ (determining minimum standards even if it excludes some choices), and __ (rule of thumb).
overload; satisficing; heuristics
When an individual is faced with too many alternatives from which to choose, which has a demotivating effect on making a choice.
Choice overload
Finding a satisfactory option or satisfactory choice but not necessarily the best choice in a situation and basing a decision on that.
Satisficing (portmanteau of satisfy and sacrifice)
An object or event that is recognized as belonging to a particular category based on the resemblance to a typical member of the category is a __ __.
Representative heuristic
When one chooses a candidate based on the number of adds and flyers they saw around town, their judgment is said to be based on an __ __.
Availability heuristic
You’re given a plant and told it’s a maple sapling (the leaves look like maple leaves). It turns out to be Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’. What principle did the gifter use when they told the giftee it was a maple?
Representative heuristic
Brain imaging shows the principle of __ __ in effect; you’ll use strategies you normally rely on because they’re __ and produce the __ cortical arousal.
This is proof of the concept of brain __ and demonstrates how resources for __ are finite.
least effort;
efficient; least
economizing; processing
__ __ is a hypothetical amount of available activity for obtaining reinforcers; it’s related to __.
Reflex reserve; persistence
Acquired ability to sustain physical or mental effort or to be persistent in spite of building up subjective fatigue. Makes success form likely.
Learned industriousness
Responding in times of mental or physical fatigue; willing to work longer without a reward and despite fatigue; related to grit.
Learned industriousness.
An individual difference variable that refers to consistent interest and passion for long-term goals and persisting in trying to achieve them.
Grit
As __ effort increases, motivation decreases. This relates to __ consumption and __ exertion.
subjective
energy; perceived
Where does motivational energy come from?
Carbs
__-__ is the resolve to remain on track toward a goal based on the ability to override desires, emotions, or impulses that interrupt goal achievement behavior.
self-control
When dieting, people are more likely to cheat when given challenging puzzles than when given easy puzzles.
This is due to the fact that __-__ causes increased mental __ in order to stay on task.
self-control; exertion
The law of __ states that humans and non-human animals will work if deprived of a reinforcer, such as food.
scarcity
The __ law defines what you are willing to pay for a reinforcer.
demand
__ behavior is behavior that is executed because it produces some type of consequence.
Operant
The ratio between the number of responses (e.g., lever presses) required for a single reinforcer (e.g., a food pellet); ratio of responses per reinforcer.
Fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement (or fixed ratio).
As the __ __ (FR) requirement is increased, demand for reinforcers __.
fixed ratio; decreases.
Food and shelter are __ resistant to increased demand because they are __ demands.
On the other hand, luxuries, such as entertainment and dining out, are __ resistant to increased demand (__ prices) because people are only willing to pay so much; therefore they are said to be __ demands.
more; inelastic
less; higher; elastic
T or F: inelastic demands are more resistant to increased demand, and demand does not change.
False - sadly some inelastic demands, like medicine for seniors, become elastic when affordability is out of reach.
If the cost of instrumental behaviors is too high, __ demands well become __ demands.
inelastic; elastic
When incentives are easily acquired, there appears to be no preference. However, as incentives become scarce (not enough time, energy or money to acquire them), what is revealed?
Differences in preference for incentives becomes clearer - you’ll buy only those incentives that are subjectively most valuable.
One reinforcer can replace another provided they serve the same function. This is known as the __ __.
Describe an example using coffee.
Substitution effect.
If your fav Starbucks latte goes up in price, you may buy an Americano, or you may go to DD.
Increase in price of one reinforcer __ the demand for the __; eventually demand for the expensive item __.
This is known as the __ effect.
increases; substitute; lowers
subsitution
If one behavior is restricted, then another behavior will increase. This is known as the __ __ among behaviors.
substitution effect
T or F: The substitution effect of behavior means that if you were going to go to the beach, but it rains out, you’ll choose clean the house instead.
False - a substitution of behaviors would be within the same category (one recreational activity replaced with another; not a chore).
Dating comes with an __ cost because you can’t be on two dates simultaneously.
Opportunity
In the __ __ of commitment, there are 3 type of people:
- stayers - their __ __ is increased, so the cost to continue the relationship __.
- leavers - there is no __ or __ in reward, but the cost to continue __.
- abandoned - the cost to continue __, and the __ __ value decreased.
Investment Model
reward value; decreased
increase; decrease; increased
increased; alternate reward
Helping:
People high in __ are more likely to help, but the cost of helping may reduce __. The level of arousal of __ determines the likelihood of helping.
empathy; empathy
empathy
The principle of least effort is evident in the modern-day __: energy intake is easier, and work load is lower.
obesity
Economic principles characterize many behaviors including dating, attending __ (tuition plus lost __), helping others, obesity, and choice of a __ (the number of years of study required).
college; wages; career
