Chapter 8 (Motivation) Flashcards
What is the Drive Reduction theory?
The theory that our behavior is motivated by biological needs (our body seeks balance/homeostasis)
What are our drives categorized into?
Primary drives: biological needs
Secondary drives: learned drives
(we learn that money gets us food to satisfy our primary drive)
What is the Arousal theory?
A theory that states that we seek an optimum level of excitement or arousal
What are people with high optimum levels of arousal drawn to?
High-excitement behaviors
Watching TV while eating at the same time is optimum, but watching TV and studying causes you to lose focus. Which theory does this fall under?
Arousal theory (more specifically, Yerkes-Dodson law) Watching TV is the high arousal subject, eating is the easy task, and studying is the hard task
[High level of arousal + easy task = perform well]
[High level of arousal + hard task = does NOT perform well]
What does the Opponent-process theory of motivation explain?
Addictive behaviors
What does the Opponent-process theory of motivation state?
That people are usually at a normal (baseline) state. An act that takes us away from the baseline (like smoking) may be pleasurable, but we seek to return to the baseline (quit smoking).
If someone is addicted to drinking, they may experience withdrawal. How does this fit in with the Opponent-process theory of motivation?
The discomfort of the withdrawal state moves them away from their baseline, so they drink again to feel normal/better and stop the withdrawals (return to their new baseline).
What does the Incentive theory state?
We are motivated to seek rewards
For every chapter you read, I give you a piece of chocolate. You become motivated to read more chapters to get more chocolate pieces. Which motivation theory does this fall under?
Incentive theory
What are incentives?
Stimuli that we are drawn to due to learning (we learn that money and junk food are good “rewards”)
What did Abraham Maslow believe?
That not all needs are created equal
What are the levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in order of which needs we need to satisfy first?
1) Physiological needs: starvation
2) Safety needs: out of danger
3) Belongingness and love needs: To be accepted
4) Esteem needs: Achieve and gain approval
5) Self-actualization needs: Reach your full potential
What does the set-point theory state?
That the hypothalamus wants to maintain a certain body weight.
(If we fall below our normal body weight, the lateral hypothalamus tells us to eat. If we reach the set-point, the ventromedial hypothalamus tells us to stop)
