Chapter 11 - What Drives Us Flashcards
motivations
arise from the interplay between nature (bodily push) and nurture (the ‘pulls’ from our thought processes and culture)
four perspectives for motivated behaviour
instinct theory, drive-reduction theory, arousal theory, and Abraham maslow’s hierarchy of needs
instinct theory (evolutionary perspective)
focuses on genetically predisposed behaviour.
instinct
a complex behaviour that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned
drive reduction theory
focuses on how we respond to our inner pushes. the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need
homeostasis
the maintenance of a steady internal state
incentive
a postive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behaviour
arousal theory
focuses on finding the right level of stimulation
yerkes-dodson law
the Principle that performance increases with arousal only up to a point, beyond which performance decreases
abraham maslow’s hierarchy of needs
focuses on the priority of some needs over others. Maslow’s pyramid of human needs, beginning at the base with physiological needs that must first be satisfied before higher level safety needs and then psychological needs become active
glucose
the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for the body tissues, when its level is low, we feel hunger
arcuate nucleus
a centre that secretes appetite-stimulating hormones
ghrelin
a hunger-arousing hormone secreted by an empty stomach; sends ‘Im hungry’ to the brain
insulin
hormone secreted by the pancreas; controls blood glucose
leptin
protein hormone secreted by fat cells, when abundant, causes brain to increase metabolism and decreases hunger
orexin
hunger-triggering hormone secreted by the hypothalamus
PYY
digestive tract hormone; send ‘Im not hungry’ signals to the brain
set point
the point at which your ‘weight thermostat’ is supposedly set. when your body falls below this weight, increased hunger and a lower metabolic rate may combine to restore lost weight
basal metabolic rate
the rate of energy expenditure for maintaining basic body functions when at rest
neophobia
dislike of unfamiliar things
ecology of eating
- presence of others tend to amplify our natural behaviour tendencies.
- you eat more if the portion is bigger
- If you have multiple options you may eat more
asexual
having no sexual attraction to others
testosterone
the most important of the male sex hormones. both males and females have it, but the 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.
estrogen
sex hormones, such as estradiol, secreted in greater amounts by females than by males and contributing to female sex characteristics. in nonhuman female mammals, estrogen levels peak during ovulation, promoting sexual receptivity