chap 7 Flashcards
The study of ________ in psychology is crucial to a full understanding of
behavior. In order to come to a complete appraisal on one’s behavior, we have to figure out WHY he acts as he does.
Why is he behaving in this way? A
satisfactory answer to this question will
reveal a lot about this person.
motivation
characteristics of motivation
instigated
directional
selective
homeostatic
Something sets off a behavioral sequence.
The instigator can either a deficit within the organism or some external object that triggers the behavior. To
understand a motive better, it is important to know the conditions that arouse it. § This does not imply, however, that the person is always aware of these arousal conditions and the motivation affected by it. Motives can be at work on a
subconscious level.
motivated behaviour is instigated
Once a motivated behavioral sequence has
been set off, the behavior carries a person
toward o away from something. It moves
toward what may satisfy the person, or
away from what is undesirable. It can be
said that motivated behavior leads to a
goal, i.e. it is always goal-directed.
motivated behavior is directional
A motivated individual is sensitive to
those parts of the world that have a
relevance to his needs. Depending on
the intensity of the need condition, he
becomes more sensitive to whatever may
be instrumental to satisfy this need, and
less sensitive to whatever does not meet
this need.
§ This aspect of motivated behavior
implies that such a behavior is adaptive
and flexible. It is in function of the
problem to be solved.
motivated behavior is selective
Originally, homeostasis was thought of as the
process of maintaining an internal physiological equilibrium. Certain mechanisms are built into the
body that tends to preserve a constant equilibrium. Ex. if the normal body temperature becomes
elevated, perspiration automatically occurs to lower
the temperature to normal; if the body temperature
is lowered, vasoconstriction in certain parts of the
body occurs, and the blood is redistributed, tending
to raise the temperature.
§ A similar phenomenon is observed in
motivated behavior: as long as the need is not
satisfied, the tension created by the need situation
will continue to energize the person. But once the
goal has been reached the behavior changes. The
restlessness ceases, at least for a while, and the
organism gives behavioral signs of satisfaction. It
can be said that motivated behavior is to a certain
degree homeostatic in nature.
motivated behavior is homeostatic
is the behavior triggered by a
frustration
frustration-instigated behavior
It is a process by which activities are started,
directed, and continued.
motivation
two kinds of motivation
extrinsic motivation
intrinsic motivation
The action itself is rewarding
– The action itself motivates the person
Intrinsic motivation
Action leads to outcome separate from
or external to the person
Extrinsic motivation
Approaches to Motivation
- Instinct approaches
2.Drive-reduction approaches
3.Arousal approaches - Incentive approaches
5.Humanistic approaches
–Biologically determined and innate
patterns of behavior
– Exist in both people and animals
instincs
Assumes people are governed by
instincts similar to those of animals
instinct approach
A NEED is a requirement for some
material that is important for survival
Drive-Reduction Approaches
Tendency for body to maintain a steady state
Homeostasis
Assumption: behavior arises from
physiological needs
Drive Reduction Theory
2 kinds of drives
Primary drives
Acquired (secondary) drives
Drives involving needs of the
body
primary drives
Drives learned
through experience or conditioning
Acquired (secondary) drives
McClelland proposed 3 psychological needs
Need for achievement (nAch)
Need for affiliation (nAff)
Need for power (nPow)
Involves a strong desire to succeed
in attaining goals
Need for achievement (nAch)
Need for friendly social interactions
Need for affiliation (nAff)
Need to have control or influence over
others
Need for power (nPow)
Appears to be unlearned
– Causes an increase in stimulation
Stimulus motive
People have an optimal (best or ideal) level of
tension
Arousal theory
Performance is related to arousal
– Moderate levels of arousal lead to
better performance
Yerkes-Dodson law
Behavior is explained as a response to
an external stimulus and its rewarding
properties
Incentive Approaches
In order to predict actions, we need to
know the individual’s beliefs about
their abilities and values associated
with the actions
Expectancy-value theories
Tolman and others
Deficiency Needs
Physiological needs: relate to your body,
e.g., hunger, thirsty sex, sleep, free of
pain
Safety needs: physical and psychological
safety
Love and belonging needs: need to give and
receive love, a sense of belonging
Esteem needs: a sense of worth, respect
from others and self-respect; reputation;
social status
Times where self-actualization is
temporarily achieved
Peak experiences
Point that is seldom reached
– Individual has sufficiently satisfied lower
needs
– Achieved full human potential
Self-actualization
Believed that more than one need
could be active at a time
– Progression up and down the
hierarchy is common
– One need assumes greater
importance at a particular time than
other needs
Alderfer
In control of one’s own behavior
and goals
autonomy
Able to master challenging tasks of
one’s life
Competence
Sense of belonging, intimacy,
and security in relationships with others
Relatedness
Three inborn universal needs to
gain a complete sense of self
autonomy
competence
relatedness
is the behavior triggered by a
frustration
frustration-instigated behavior
MOTIVATED BEHAVIOR
goal-directed
adaptive
pro-active
frustration-instigated behavior
Frustration fixates behavior
rigid
re-active
Humans have some of these motives in
common with animals, even when
great discrepancies in behavioral
expressions can be observed
human motivation
In human
motivation, three levels of motives can
be recognized:
the biological motives,
- the psychological motives,
- the existential motives
Among these
biological drives are:
Hunger
§ Thirst
§ Need for oxygen
§ Need of constant body temperature
These drives are directed
towards a state of physiological well being,
towards the preservation and development
of biological life
biological motives
A person experiences a need for others
affiliation need
a person wants
to be fully himself in his unique, irreplaceable identify among the others.
Need to be Someone
2 types of psychosocial motives
affiliation need
need to be someone
even though it is
biologically conditioned, belongs therefore
more to the group of the psychosocial
needs because it occupies a central
position in the realm of interpersonal
relationships
human sexuality
The need for this existential integration can be
expressed and find an answer in many different ways
meditation
philosophy
religion
A man is a being who asks questions about his own
existence
A man is a being who asks questions about his own
existence
existential motives
