deck notes PSYCH Flashcards
Incentives
sought after objects and ends external to you; could push you to action
What is Motivation?
Motivation refers to the forces that activate and guide our behavior.
A motive is a single reason or purpose for behavior. We draw inferences about motivation based on what we can observe.
What is a drive in the context of Drive Reduction Theory?
A drive is a psychological state of arousal that prompts action to reduce the drive and restore balance.
An incentive is a sought after object or end that exists in the external environment.
What are regulatory drives?
Motivation for regulatory drives arises from an imbalance in homeostasis.
Examples include hunger, thirst, and drives for salt, oxygen, sleep, and warmth.
What are examples of nonregulatory drives?
- Safety Drives
- Reproductive Drives
- Social Drives
- Educative Drives
Most drives are not regulatory but are necessary for survival and reproduction.
What is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Lower-level needs must be partially satisfied before people can be motivated by higher-level goals, ultimately striving towards self-actualization.
There is weak evidence to support this theory, but it is thought-provoking.
What are the components of the BPSS Model in motivation?
- Biological
- Psychological
- Social/Cultural
- Spiritual
This model helps to understand eating behavior.
What biological factors influence eating?
- Stomach contractions
- Blood sugar level
- Limbic system (hypothalamus)
Damage to the limbic system can lead to aphagia (loss of eating) or hyperphagia (excessive eating).
What psychological factors affect eating behavior?
- Classical conditioning of eating response
- Operant conditioning of eating response
- Food cues (appearance, aroma)
- Situational cues (amount, availability)
Eating tasty food is pleasurable and reduces hunger, which is an unpleasant feeling.
How do social/cultural factors influence eating?
- Relative importance of mealtimes
- Differences in physical activity levels
- Influences perception of ‘good’ foods
- Gender differences in eating
- Culturally-shared ideals of body type
Cultural shifts in beauty standards have changed perceptions of body types over time.
What spiritual influences are mentioned regarding eating behavior?
- Fasting
- Sharing meals with others
- Excessive eating
- Old Testament Laws
- Communion/Eucharist/Lord’s Supper
These aspects reflect how spirituality may impact dietary choices and behaviors.
What is bulimia nervosa?
Extreme overeating followed by self-induced vomiting and misuse of laxatives to prevent weight gain
Maintains average BMI
What characterizes anorexia nervosa?
Excessive weight loss, an irrational fear of gaining weight, and distorted body self-perception
Includes restricting subtype and binge-purge subtype
What are the highest prevalence groups for disordered eating?
- Women
- Industrialized countries
- Whites
These groups are more likely to experience disordered eating behaviors
When does disordered eating usually onset?
Usually in adolescence and early adulthood
Define obesity.
A condition in which a person is severely overweight, as measured by a body-mass index (BMI) greater than 30
List environmental and behavioral factors contributing to obesity.
- Increased portion sizes
- Greater prevalence of high-fat foods
- Decreases in physical activity
- Reliance on diets rather than long-term behavior changes
- Role of poverty
What genetic factors affect obesity?
- Genetic susceptibility to obesity
- If family history, 2-3 times more likely to become obese
- Leptin resistance in obese people
What percentage of women and men in the US say they want to lose weight?
66% of women and 50% of men
What should you do when motivated to lose weight?
- Begin a weight-loss program
- Minimize exposure to tempting foods
- Exercise
- Forgive yourself for lapses
What are the biological influences on sexual drive?
- Not a homeostatic drive
- Influenced primarily by hormones
- Effects include directing development and activating sexual attraction
What hormones influence sexual drive in males?
Androgens, e.g., testosterone
What hormones influence sexual drive in females?
Estrogens and progestogens
