Chapter 5: Motivation Emotion, and Stress

Question 1

What is arousal theory?

Answer 1

People perform actions in order to maintain an optimal level of arousal: seeking to increase arousal when it falls below their optimal level and to decrease arousal when it rises above their optimum level. Related to Yerks-Dodson law.

Question 2

What is Yerkes-Dodson law?

Answer 2

A U-shaped function between the level of arousal and performance. The law states that performance is worst at extremely high and low levels of arousal and optimal at some intermediate level.

Question 3

What is drive reduction theory?

Answer 3

Motivation is based on the goal of eliminating uncomfortable states. It is hypothesized that certain physiological conditions result in a negative internal environment. This internal environment drives motivation and seeks homeostasis in order to reduce the uncomfortable internal state.

Question 4

What is the difference between primary and secondary drives?

Answer 4

Primary drives are those that motivate us to sustain necessary biological processes (food, water, warmth). Secondary drives are those that motivate us to fulfill nonbiological (usually emotional) desires.

Question 5

What are Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (1 being top of the pyramid)?

Answer 5

1. Self actualization
2. Esteem
3. Love/belonging
4. Safety
5. Physiological

Question 6

What is self-determination theory?

Answer 6

Emphasizes three universal needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Theorists explain that these three needs must be met in order to develop healthy relationships with oneself and others.

Question 7

What are the four primary factors that influence motivation?

Answer 7

Instincts, arousal, drives, and needs

Question 8

What is incentive theory?

Answer 8

Explains that behavior is motivated not by need or arousal but by the desire to pursue rewards and to avoid punishments.

Question 9

What is expectancy-value theory?

Answer 9

The amount of motivation needed to reach a goal is the result of both the individuals expectation of success in reaching the goal and the degree to which he or she values succeeding at the goal.

Question 10

How does the opponent-process theory explain continuous drug use?

Answer 10

The theory explains that when a drug is taken repeatedly, the body will attempt to counteract the effects of the drug by changing its physiology. However, this results in withdrawal symptoms that are exactly the opposite the effects of the drug. The change in physiology may be increased tolerance.

Question 11

What are the three elements of emotion?

Answer 11

1. The physiological response (changes in heart rate, breathing rate, skin temp, and blood pressure)
2. The behavioral response (facial expressions and body language)
3. The cognitive response (subjective interpretation of the feeling being experienced, based on past experiences and perception)

Question 12

What are the 7 universal emotions?

Answer 12

Fear, anger, happiness, surprise, contempt, disgust, and sadness

Question 13

What is the James-Lange theory of emotion?

Answer 13

Stimulus leads to physiological arousal. Arousal leads to cognitive labeling of emotion (ex. “I must be angry because my skin is hot and my blood pressure is high”)

Nervous system arousal –> conscious labeling of emotion

Question 14

What is the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion?

Answer 14

Stimulus leads to physiological arousal AND feeling of emotion. Action is secondary response to stimulus.
Ex: “I am afraid because I see a snake and my heart is racing.. Let me out of here!”

Nervous system arousal and conscious labeling of emotion –> action

Question 15

What is the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion?

Answer 15

Both arousal and labeling based on environment required to feel an emotion.
Ex: “I am excited because my heart is racing and everyone else is happy”

Nervous system arousal and cognitive appraisal based on environment –> conscious labeling of emotion

Question 16

What is the function of the limbic system?

Answer 16

It plays a large role in both motivation and emotion.

Question 17

What structures make up the limbic system?

Answer 17

Amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, fornix, septal nuclei, and parts of the cerebral cortex.

Question 18

What is the function of the amygdala?

Answer 18

Function is related to attention and emotion. It processes the environment, detects external cues, and learns from the persons’ surroundings in order to produce emotion. Houses implicit memory.

Question 19

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 19

Functions primarily as preliminary sensory processing station and routes information to the cortex and other appropriate areas of the brain

Question 20

What is the function of the hippocampus?

Answer 20

Located within the temporal lobe, primarily involved in creating long-term memories. Houses explicit memories

Question 21

What is the function of the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 21

It is associated with planning intricate cognitive functions, expressing personality, and making decisions. The left prefrontal cortex is associated with positive emotions and the right with negative emotions.

Question 22

What is cognitive appraisal?

Answer 22

The subjective evaluation of a situation that induces stress. This process consists of two stages: primary and secondary cognitive appraisal.

Question 23

What is the difference between primary and secondary cognitive appraisal?

Answer 23

Primary appraisal is the initial examination, which results in the identification of the stress as irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful. If identified as a threat, secondary appraisal is an evaluation of one’s ability to cope with the stress.

Question 24

What are five different forms of psychological stress?

Answer 24

1. Pressure (expectations, demands)
2. Control (controlling a situation or event)
3. Predictability
4. Frustration (when attaining a goal is prevented)
5. Conflict (making a choice)

Question 25

What are the three stages of the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 25

1. Alarm: activation of sympathetic nervous system, release of cortisol, EP, NEP.
2. Resistance: continuous release of hormones to keep fighting stressor.
3. Exhaustion: Body can no longer fight stressor with sympathetic nervous system

Question 26

What is the instinct theory of motivation?

Answer 26

People are driven to do certain behaviors based on evolutionarily programmed instincts.

Question 27

What are the three universal needs of self-determination theory?

Answer 27

1. autonomy: the need to be in control of one’s actions and ideas
2. competence: the need to complete and excel at difficult tasks
3. relatedness: the need to feel accepted and wanted in relationships

Question 28

What is the difference between explicit and implicit memory of emotion?

Answer 28

Explicit: conscious, the experience of the emotion, “story” of the event (what happened, where is occurred, etc.)

Implicit: unconscious, storage of the actual feeling of the event, emotion is retrieved when remembering the event

Question 29

The ability to distinguish and interpret others facial expressions is primarily controlled by what brain structure?

Answer 29

Temporal lobe

Question 30

Approach-approach vs. avoidance-avoidance vs. approach-avoidance conflicts

Answer 30

Approach-approach: choosing btw two desirable options

Avoidance-avoidance: choosing btw two negative options

Approach-avoidance: only one choice but the outcome can have negative and positive elements (ex. accepting job promotion)