chapter 11: what drives us Flashcards
Performance peaks at lower levels of arousals for difficult tasks, and at higher levels for easy or well-learned tasks. (a) how might this affect marathon runners? (B) how might this affect anxious test-takers facing a difficult exam?
(a) well practiced runners tend to excel when aroused by competition
(b) high anxiety about a difficult exam may disrupt test-takers performance
After hours of driving alone in an unfamiliar city, you finally see a diner. Although it looks deserted and a little creepy, you stop because you are really hungry and thirsty. How would Maslow’s hierarchy of needs explain your behaviour?
According to Maslow, our drive to meet the physiological needs of hunger and thirst takes priority over our safety needs, promoting us to take risks at times.
How do psychologists define motivation? what are four key motivation theories?
Motivation is a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior. The instinct/evolutionary perspective explores genetic influences on complex behaviors. Drive-reduction theory explores how physiological needs create aroused tension states (drives) that directs us to satisfy those needs. Environmental incentives can intensify drives. Drive-reduction’s goal is homeostasis, maintaining a steady internal state. Arousal theory proposes that some behaviors (such as those driven by curiosity) do not reduce physiological needs but rather are prompted by a search for an optimum level of arousal. the Yerkes-Dodson law describes the relationship between arousal and performance. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs proposes a pyramid of human needs, from basic needs up to higher-level needs.
motivation
need or desire that energizes and directs behavior
instinct
a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned
physiological need
a basic bodily requirement
drive-reduction theory
the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need.
homeostasis
a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood 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
Today’s evolutionary psychology shares an idea that was an underlying assumption of instinct theory. This idea is that….
a) physiological needs arouse psychological states
b) genes predispose species-typical behavior
c) physiological needs increase arousal
d) external needs energize and direct behavior
b) genes predispose species-typical behavior
an example of a physiological need
an example of a psychological drive is
a) hunger; a “push” to find food
b) a “push” to find food; hunger
c) curiosity; a “push” to reduce arousal
d) a “push” to reduce arousal; curiosity
a) hunger; a “push” to find food
Danielle walks into a friend’s kitchen, smells cookies baking, and begins to feel very hungry. The smell of baking cookies is a(n) _________
incentive
__________ theory attempts to explain behaviours that do NOT reduce physiological needs
arousal
with a challenging task, such as taking a difficult exam, performance is likely to peak when arousal is
a) very high
b) moderate
c) very low
d) absent
b) moderate
according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, our most basic needs are physiological, including the need for food and water; just above these are ___________ needs.
a) safety
b) self-esteem
c) belongingnees
d) self-transcendence
a) safety
hunger occurs in response to _____ blood glucose and ________ levels of ghrelin
low; high
After an 8 hour hike without food, your long-awaited favorite dish is placed in front of you, and your mouth waters in anticipation. Why?
you have learned to respond to the sight and aroma that signal the food about to enter your mouth. Both physiological cues (low blood sugar) and psychological cues (anticipation of the tasty meal) heighten your experienced hunger
Why can two people of the same height, age, and activity level maintain the same weight, even if one of them eats much less than the other does?
Genetically influences set/settling points, metabolism, and other factors (such as adequate sleep) influence the way our body burns calories
what physiological factors produce hunger?
Hunger pangs correspond to stomach contractions, but hunger also has other causes. Neural areas in the brain, some within the hypothalamus, monitor blood chemistry (including level of glucose) and incoming information about the body’s state. Appetite hormones include ghrelin (secreted by an empty stomach); orexin (secreted by the hypothalamus); leptin (secreted by fat cells); and PYY (secreted by the digestive tract). Basal metabolic rate is the body’s resting rate of energy expenditure. The body may have a set point (a biologically fixed tendency to maintain an optimum weight) or a looser settling point (also influenced by the environment)
What cultural and situational factors influence hunger?
Hunger reflects our memory of when we last ate and our expectation of when we should eat again. Humans as a species prefer certain tastes (such as sweet and salty), but our individual preferences are also influenced by conditioning, culture, and situation. Some taste preferences have survival value. Situational influences include the presence of others, serving size, and the variety of foods offered
How does obesity affect physical and psychological health? What factors are involved in weight management?
Obesity, defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, is associated with increased depression (especially among women) and bullying, and with many physical health risks. Genes and environment interact to produce obesity. Storing fat was adaptive to our ancestors, and fat requires less food intake to maintain than it did to gain. Set point and metabolism matter. Twin and adoption studies indicate that body weight is also genetically influenced. Environmental influences include sleep loss, social influence, and food and activity levels. Those wishing to lose weight are advised to make a lifelong changes in habits: begin only if you feel motivated and self-disciplined; exercise and get enough sleep; minimize exposure to tempting food cutes; limit variety and eat healthy foods; reduce portion sizes; relabel portions; time intake to avoid nighttime eating and eat heavier meals earlier in the day; beware of the binge; plan ahead to control eating during social events; forgive the occasional lapse; publicly chart your progress; and connect to support group
glucose
form of sugar that circulates in blood and provides major source of energy for body tissues. When its level is low, we feel hunger
set point
point which “weight thermostat” may be set. When body falls below weight, increase hunger and lowered metabolic rate may combine to restore lost weight
Basal metabolic rate
body’s resting rate of energy output
Obesity
defined as body mass index (BMI) measurement of 30 of higher, which is calculated from weight-to-height ratio
Journalist Dorothy Dix once remarked, “nobody wants to kiss when they are hungry.” Which motivation theory best supports her statement?
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs supports this statement because it addresses the primacy of some motives over others. Once our basic physiological needs are met, safety concerns are addressed next, followed by belongingness and love needs (such as the desire to kiss)
According to the concept of ____ point, our body maintains itself as a particular weight level
set
Which of the following is a genetically predisposed response to food?
a) an aversion to eating cats and dogs
b) an interest in novel foods
c) a preference of sweet and salty foods
d) an aversion to carbohydrates
c) a preference for sweet and salty foods
blood sugar provides the body with energy. When it is _____, we feel hungry.
low
the rate o which your body expends energy while at rest is referred to as the ________ ___________ rate.
basal metabolic
