chapter 9: motivation and emotion Flashcards
define motivation
drives that propel us in a specific direction
especially wants and needs
what is motivation used for?
Achieving goals
types of goals:
PHYSICS
physiological: food, water, exercise, sleep
hedonic goals: pleasure (think “H” for happy)
gain goals: personal resources (think “Y” for yourself)
social goals: belonging, attachment, status
cognitive goals: need to understand; motivated reasoning
what is the drive reduction theory?
Certain drives motivate us to act in ways that minimize aversive states
what are drives?
NAIL
N - Needs
A - Altered
I - Internal
L - Lack of equilibrium
Internal states caused by an Altered Lack of equilibrium in an organism’s physiological Needs
what does drive reduction maintain?
homeostasis
what does arousal reflect?
our level of alertness or stimulation
what is Yerkes-Dodson Law?
suggests there is an optimal level of arousal or stress for peak performance in any given task. According to this law, performance improves as arousal or stress increases, but only up to a certain point. Beyond this point, further increases in arousal or stress can lead to a decline in performance.
Moderate arousal leads to …
optimal performance
what is stimulus hunger?
individual experiences a craving or desire for low-intensity stimulation when their arousal levels are low. This may occur when a person is bored, tired, or under-stimulated and seeks out activities or experiences that provide just enough stimulation to maintain an optimal level of arousal.
what does “drives can clash” refer to?
Our drives clash when they compete for attention, resources, or energy, leading to situations where we must prioritize or decide between conflicting desires or needs.
When two or more needs or desires demand attention simultaneously, such as hunger and sleep, we may have trouble deciding which need to satisfy first.
what are approach and avoidance drives?
two fundamental types of motivation that influence our behaviors, and goal setting. The different ways people strive for positive outcomes and avoid negative outcomes
Approach goals involve actively seeking out positive experiences or outcomes. People pursuing approach goals are motivated by the desire to attain something desirable or beneficial.
avoidance goals involve efforts to prevent negative outcomes, such as avoiding failure, punishment, or danger. People pursuing avoidance goals are motivated by the desire to prevent or alleviate something undesirable or harmful.
Approach drives:
predisposition towards stimulus
these are motivations that propel us toward positive experiences, rewards, or desired outcomes. Approach drives encourage us to engage in activities that result in pleasurable or beneficial outcomes, such as seeking social connections, pursuing career advancement, or striving for personal growth. Approach motivation is often driven by the anticipation of satisfaction, success, or pleasure.
Avoidance drives:
predisposition away from stimulus
These are motivations that push us away from negative experiences, threats, or undesired outcomes. Avoidance drives prompt us to avoid situations that may result in harm, discomfort, or loss, such as evading dangerous situations, escaping conflict, or preventing failures. Avoidance motivation is often driven by the fear of negative consequences or the desire to prevent discomfort.
how can approach and avoidance drives conflict with each other?
when pursuing a goal or deciding involves both positive and negative outcomes. This conflict can create dilemmas and make decision-making more challenging.
The study by Zimbardo and Montgomery (1957)
a good example of motivated behavior that does not align with the drive reduction theory. The experiment focused on curiosity and exploration, which are intrinsically motivated behaviors not driven by the need to reduce internal tension or satisfy a biological need.
In the study, rats were placed in a maze with no food rewards, and their behavior was observed. The rats continued to explore the maze despite the absence of a biological drive or need to be satisfied, such as hunger.
The findings suggest that curiosity and exploration, as well as other intrinsically motivated behaviors, may not be well-explained by the drive reduction theory. Instead, these behaviors may be driven by factors such as personal interest, cognitive stimulation, or intrinsic satisfaction derived from engaging in the activity itself.
what are incentive theories?
We are motivated to pursue goals by positive outcomes
what is extrinsic motivation?
motivated by external goals
what is intrinsic motivation
people are motivated by internal goals
Extrinsic rewards can ___ intrinsic motivation
undermine
Reality is complex:
we may not classify activities specifically as either intrinsic or extrinsic. In real-life situations, our motivations for engaging in activities are often a blend of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
who developed the hierarchy of needs?
Abraham Maslow
explain The hierarchy of Needs
a theory that describes the different levels of human needs and motivations in a pyramid-like structure. In simple terms, it suggests that people must satisfy their basic needs at the lower levels of the hierarchy before they can focus on higher-level needs.
moves from drives to incentives
Hierarchy of needs positive:
Recognizes the relative importance of needs
Good categorization system