Chapter 11 - Motivation and Work Flashcards

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1
Q

What is motivation?

A

A need or desire that energizes behavior and directs it toward a goal - why we do something.

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2
Q

What is an instinct?

A

A fixed pattern of behavior that is not acquired by learning and is likely to be rooted in genes and the body.

This is seen more in animals than humans - evolutionary perspective. Human babies show certain reflexes but in general our behaviors are less prescribed by genetics. We may, however, have genetic predispositions for some behaviors. Human behaviors are usually more environmentally influenced than inborn, like in animals.

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3
Q

What is a drive?

A

A drive is an aroused / tense state related to a physical need. Ex. hunger and thirst.

Drives push from inside of us.

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4
Q

What is drive reduction?

A

Drives are usually uncomfortable and humans are motivated to reduce these drives. Drive reduction restores homeostasis - constant internal state.

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5
Q

What is an incentive?

A

Incentives are external stimuli that can “pull” us in our actions. Ex. We have a drive to have food or money we can exchange for food. Employers can use the prospect of a raise as an incentive to follow employer rules.

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6
Q

Talk about seeking optimum arousal.

A

Some behavior is not directly linked to a biological need. Human motivation aims not to eliminate arousal but to seek optimum levels of arousal.

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7
Q

What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

A

Humans strive to ensure that basic needs are satisfied before they find motivation to pursue goals that are higher up on the hierarchy. We must have food and water before safety before belonging and love before esteem before self-actualization before transcendence.

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8
Q

Define self-actualization.

A

Living up to one’s full potential.

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9
Q

Define transcendance.

A

Overcoming the limits of the human self / finding meaning beyond yourself. Not everyone reaches this level.

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10
Q

Talk about hunger and motivation.

A

Research studies using semi-starvation show that when we are hungry, thought about food dominate our consciousness. The stomach contracts when hungry - hunger pangs. Receptors throughout the digestive system monitor levels of glucose and send signals to the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus can send out appetite stimulating / suppressing hormones to increase / decrease appetite.

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11
Q

Talk about regulating weight.

A

Most mammals have a stable weight to which they keep returning - their set point.

When a person’s weight drops / increases, the body adjusts their hunger level and energy usage.

Basal metabolic rate - the rate of energy expenditure when the body is at rest.

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12
Q

What determines how much we eat?

A

Unit bias - we may only eat one serving of food, but will eat more is the serving size is larger.

Buffet effect - we eat more if more options are available.

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13
Q

What causes variations from our normal body weight?

A

Body fat is our long-term energy source.

The biological tendency to store fat can be dysfunctional when food is abundantly available an can lead to obesity. In the United States the adult obesity rate has more than doubled in the last 40 years. This has been linked to diabetes, heart problems, and certain cancers.

BMI - body mass index - higher BMI, greater risk of death, especially in men (2%).

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14
Q

Why is obesity hard to change?

A

Once we become fat we require less food to maintain our weight than we did to attain it.

Eating less slow the metabolism.

A formerly obese person who lost weight will have to eat less than an average person just to prevent weight gain.

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15
Q

Talk about the social psychology of obesity.

A

Weight discrimination is stronger than race and gender discrimination.

People who are obese are more likely to be depressed or isolated.

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16
Q

Talk about genetics and obesity.

A

Our weight resembles that of our biological parents.

Identical twins, even those raised apart, are more similar than fraternal twins.

Many genes are involved - burning calories, converting calories to fat, when intestines send the “full” signal, how much to fidget, etc.

17
Q

Talk about lifestyle factors and obesity.

A

It more you fidget, the more likely you are to be thin. Inadequate sleep affects appetite hormones. Having obese friends puts you more at risk to be overweight, as do eating a lot of fast food and having a sedentary lifestyles - duh.

18
Q

Talk about sex and motivation.

A

Sexual motivation enables our species’ survival.

Sexual arousal depends on the interplay of internal and external stimuli.

Sexual desire and response is not as tied to hormone levels in humans as it is in animals.

During ovulation, women show a rise in estrogen and testosterone. As this happens, sexual desire rises in women and the men around them, whose testosterone level rises.

An increase in testosterone is caused by an increase in sexual arousal and can cause an increase in sexual arousal - back and forth; not exclusive.

19
Q

Talk about sex and the brain.

A

Men and women become aroused when they see, hear, or read erotic material. The effects are stronger for men.

Psychological and social cultural factors play a bigger role in sexual motivation than biological factors.

20
Q

Talk about sexuality in the media.

A

It is extremely stereotypical in the portrayal of the sexes, especially of females - women as sexual objects.

With repeated exposure to any erotic stimulus, the response lessens / habituates.

21
Q

What is sexual orientation?

A

One’s “identity” as either heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, etc. This usually emerges in puberty.

Having a homosexual orientation puts one at risk for anxiety and mood disorders because of discrimination, rejection, and isolation.

About 3% of men and 1 - 2% of women worldwide report being exclusively homosexual.

22
Q

What is the origin of sexual orientation?

A

Sexual orientation is not willingly chosen nor willingly changed. Differences appear to begin at birth, being either genetic or an effect from the exposure to hormones or antigens in the womb. Brain differences include a certain cluster of cells in the hypothalamus and these differences appear prenatally or soon after birth.

In mammals, female fetuses exposed to extra testosterone and male fetuses exposed to low levels of testosterone often grow up with bodies, brains, and faces with traits of the opposite sex, and same sex desires.

23
Q

What is the fraternal birth order effect?

A

The more older brothers a boy has, the more likely he is to be gay. This applies to right handed men only.

24
Q

Talk about the motivation to belong.

A

The need to affiliate with other and form close relationships.

The evolutionary psychology perspective states that seeking bonds with others aids survival in many ways: children being close to their caregivers results in mutual protection for both parties, a division of labor in hunting / sharing food, and emotional support through crises.

25
Q

What makes life meaningful?

A

Close satisfying relationships with family, friends, and significant others.

We also need autonomy (independence) and a sense of personal competence / efficiency.

Much of our social behavior seeks to increase our social acceptance and avoid rejection.

Life’s worst moments can be when close relationships end. Being ostracized - rejected by everyone - can lead to real physical pain.

26
Q

Talk about the motivation to work.

A

Income can satisfy the drive for food and shelter. For some. work can feel like a calling, a fulfilling and socially useful activity. Some people may seek the call of optimal work - this experience is called the “flow” - feeling purposely engaged, deeply immersed, and challenged.

27
Q

What is the psychology of the work place (industrial / organizational psychology)?

A

Personnel - hiring and evaluating.
Organizational - management, leadership, and teamwork.
Human factors - how workers interact with machines and their environment.

28
Q

Talk about personnel.

A

In charge of selecting, hiring, and placing personnel. Components include finding the right person for a specific job, they analyze the content of a job, and a strength based selection system enables a organization to flourish.

It doesn’t focus on correcting deficiencies, but rather focuses on accentuating strengths and talents.

How to predict future job performance: aptitude tests, job knowledge tests,work samples, past job performance, and structural interviews.

29
Q

What is interviewer illusion?

A

Interviewers overestimate their ability to “read” people.

The best predictor of the person we will be is the person we have been.

Personnel psychologists can help employers to assess objectively the performance and value of employees.

30
Q

What is the goal of personnel psychologists?

A

Employee retention and improvement and helping determine job shifts, salary, and promotions.

Performance feedback can affirm strengths and encourage employees to work harder.

31
Q

What are the goals of organizational psychology?

A

Maximizing worker motivation, understanding organizational structure and dynamics, facilitating organizational change, and improving teamwork and leadership.

32
Q

Talk about achievement and motivation.

A

Grit refers to a combination of desire for achievement and the ability / willingness to persist at hard work.

Successful people are more energetic, ambitious, and persistent. The best predictor of school performance, attendance, and graduating with honors is self-discipline.

Employees who are satisfied in an organization are more likely to stay longer. Employees who are more engaged - connected, passionate, and energetic - are more productive.

33
Q

What do organizational psychologists study?

A

Factors related to employee satisfaction and managing employees well by harnessing talents.

Good managers focus training time on drawing out and developing strengths.

Positive behaviors are reinforced through recognition and reward, and useful goals are specific, challenging, measurable, and immediate.

34
Q

What is human factor psychology and what does it involve?

A

Taking the design of the body and the functioning of the mind into account when designing products and processes.

35
Q

What are the four basic human motivations?

A

Hunger, sex, belonging, and work.