Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

MCAT Behavioral Sciences > Chapter 5: Motivation, Emotion, and Stress > Flashcards

Chapter 5: Motivation, Emotion, and Stress Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Define “instincts”

A

Innate, fixed paterns of behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does the instinct theory of motivation say?

A

Certain behaviors are based on evolutionarily programmed instincts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define “arousal”

A

Psychological and physiological state of being awake and reactive to stimuli

Involves the brainstem, autonomic nervous system, and endocrine system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does arousal theory state?

A

People perform actions in order to maintain an optimal level of arousal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What law describes the arousal theory?

A

Yerkes-Dodson law

U-shaped function between level of arousal and performance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What happens at each point in the Yerkes-Dodson law?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Define “drives”

A

internal states of tension that activate particular behaviors focused on goals

originate from within without requiring external factors

create an uncomfortable state, which ensures motivation to eliminate/relieve this internal tension created by unmet needs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Homeostasis is usually controlled by (negative/positive?) feedback loops.

A

Negative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does drive reduction theory say?

A

Motivation is based on the goal of eliminating uncomfortable states

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How did Maslow define “needs”?

A

Relatively long-lasting feelings that require relief or satisfaction and tend to influence action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How many levels are there on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? What are they?

A
  1. Physiological
  2. Safety
  3. Love/Beloning
  4. Esteem
  5. Self-actualization

If the lowest level is not met, motivation to meet that need will be the highest priority. Once the lowest level of needs is mset, if additional needs exist, they will be satisfied based on priority.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does self-determination theory (SDT) describe?

A

Emphasizes the role of 3 universal needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness

These 3 needs must be met in order to develop healthy relationships with oneself and others

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the incentive theory of motivation?

A

Behavior is motivated not by need or arousal, but by the desire to pursue rewards and to avoid punishments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the expectancy-value theory of motivation?

A

The amount of motivation needed to reach a goal is the result of both the individual’s expectation of success in reaching the goal and the degree to which the individual values succeeding at the goal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the opponent-process theory?

A

When a drug is taken repeatedly, the body will attempt to counteract the effects of the drug by changing its physiology

e.g. body counteracts use of alcohol by increasing arousal

the problem is that the reaction lasts longer than the drug effects, resulting in withdrawal (anxiety, jitteriness, irritability) - this theory explains drug abuse and tolerance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 3 elements of an emotion?

A
  1. Physiological response
  2. Behavioral response
  3. Cognitive response

  • physiological - change in HR, temp, breathing rate, blood pressure
  • behavioral - facial expressions, body language
  • cognitive - subjective interpretation of feeling
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Darwin suggested that emotions are a result of evolution; thus, emotions and their corresponding expressions are _______________.

A

Universal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Paul Ekman described a set of basic emotions that are recognized by societies around the world and are associated with consistent facial expressions across cultures. How many are there now and what are they?

A
  1. happiness
  2. sadness
  3. contempt
  4. surprise
  5. fear
  6. disgust
  7. anger
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Early psychologists believed that the ____________ component of emotion led to the ____________ component, which then produced the ____________ component.

A

Cognitive > physiological > behavioral

feelings cause physiological changes which cause changes in behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The James-Lange theory of emotion says that a stimulus causes ________________ arousal, which leads to a secondary response in which the emotion is labeled.

A

physiological

physical changes happen first, which leads to the experience of emotion

e.g. someone cuts you off on the highway - you cognitively label your emotion like this: I must be angry because my skin is hot and my blood pressure is high

21
Q

The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion says that the conscious experience of emotion and physiological arousal occur ____________________, and then the behavioral component of emotoin (i.e. action) follows.

A

simultaneously

22
Q

The Schacter-Singer theory of emotion, also termed the _______________ ___________ theory or the ____-________ theory, states that two factors are needed to experience emotion.

What are these 2 factors?

A

cognitive arousal; two-factor

2 factors = physiological arousal and a cognitive label

23
Q

A unique aspect of the Schachter-Singer theory is this aspect of cognitive appraisal. What is it?

A

To feel an emotion, one must consciously analyze the environment in relation to nervous system arousal.

In order to feel an emotion, the mind must also identify the environmental stimulus causing the physiological arousal.

24
Q

What part of the brain is key to the experience of emotion?

A

limbic system

25
Q

What are the parts of the limbic system?

A
  1. Amygdala
  2. Thalamus
  3. Hypothalamus
  4. Hippocampus and fornix
  5. Septal nuclei
  6. Parts of the cerebral cortex
26
Q

The ____________ is a small round structure that signals the cortex about stimuli related to attention and emotions.

What emotion is it associated with?

A

amygdala

Associated with fear

27
Q

The ____________ functions as a preliminary sensory processing station and routes information to the cortex and other appropriate areas of the brain.

A

thalamus

28
Q

The ________________, located below the thalamus, synthesizes and releases a variety of neurotransmitters. What is it responsible for?

A

hypothalamus

  1. homeostatic functions
  2. emotion modulation
29
Q

The ________________, within the temporal lobe, is primarily involved in creating long-term memories.

A

hippocampus

30
Q

The ability to distinguish and interpret facial expression is primarily controlled by the ____________ lobe, with some input from the ____________ lobe.

A

temporal; occipital

31
Q

The ____________ cortex is the anterior portion of the frontal lobes and is associated with planning intricate cognitive functions, expressing personality, and making decisions.

A

Prefrontal

32
Q

The ____________ prefrontal cortex is associated with attention and cognition, while the ____________ prefrontal cortex connects with regions of the brain responsible for experiencing emotion.

A

dorsal; ventral

33
Q

The ________________ prefrontal cortex is thought to play a substantial role in decision making and controlling emotional responses from the amygdala.

A

ventromedial

34
Q

The ________________ nervous system is also related to emotion; specific physiological reactions are associated with specific emotions.

A

autonomic

35
Q

Cognitive appraisal is the subjective evaluation of a situation that induces stress. It consists of what 2 stages?

A

Primary and secondary appraisal

36
Q

What is primary appraisal of stress?

A

Initial evaluation of the environment and associated threat

the appraisal can be irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful

37
Q

What is secondary appraisal of stress? What 3 things are evaluated?

A

Evaluation of whether the organism can cope with the stress

Harm, threat, and challenge

38
Q

A ____________ is a biological element, external condition, or event that leads to a stress response.

A

stressor

39
Q

Stressors are classified as causing what 2 possible types of things?

A

distress or eustress

40
Q

What is distress?

A

Occurs when a stressor is perceived as unpleasant, e.g. a threat

41
Q

What is eustress?

A

Occurs when a stressor is positively-perceived, e.g. a challenge

42
Q

Stress level can be measured in “life change units” in a system called what?

A

The social readjustment scale

43
Q

The sequence of physiological responses developed by Hans Selye is called ____________ ____________ syndrome and consists of 3 distinct stages:

ARE

A

general adaptation

  1. Alarm
  2. Resistance
  3. Exhaustion
44
Q

In the first stage of GAS, the ________________ nervous system is activated.

A

sympathetic

45
Q

Shortly after the alarm stage of GAS, the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary to secrete ________________________________ hormone, which stimualtes the adrenal glands to produce ________________, which maintains the steady supply of blood sugar to respond to stressfule vents.

A

adrenocorticotropic; cortisol

46
Q

The stage after alarm is ________________, where the continuous release of hormones allows the sympathetic nervous system to remain engaged to fight the stressor.

A

resistance

47
Q

Lastly, a person will experience ________________, where the body can no longer maintain the elevated response with sympathetic nervous system activtiy.

A

exhaustion

becomes more vulnerable to illness and medical conditions

48
Q

____________-focused strategies involve working to overcome a stressor, confronting the issue head-on, and creating and following a plan.

A

Problem

49
Q

________________ focused strategies center on changing one’s feelings about a stressor.

A

Emotionally

taking reponsibility, distancing oneself, wishful thinking, etc.

MCAT Behavioral Sciences (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions