Historical and Contemporary perspective on motivation

Question 1

What are grand theories?

Answer 1

Theories trying to explain the full range of motivation
- Will
- Instinct
- Drive

Question 2

Grand Theories - Will

Answer 2

• Will = motivation, according to Descartes
• Hard to prove, will was mysterious to understand wtih seemingly no laws to it
• Contemporary researches acknowledge the will
  Think, plan and form intentions

Question 3

Instinct- What is it according to Darwin?

Answer 3

• Something thats physically real, and guides behavior

Question 4

Instinct - William James Instinct theory

Answer 4

• There are two types of insticts
  Physical (sucking, locomotion)
  Mental (social, play, mimic)
• Leads to goal-directed behavior at the presence of an appropriate stimulus
• Adaptive impulses to act and reflexes

Question 5

Instinct - McDougall theory

Answer 5

• Instincts to explore, fight, mother offspring etc
• Instincts are irrational impulsive forces that orient a person towards a particular goal
• No instincts=no intitiation to action

Question 6

What is drive?

Answer 6

• A motivational theory to replace instinct
• Arise from functional biology, to serve bodily needs
• Freud and Hull

Question 7

Freaud drive theory - What is motivation?

Answer 7

• All behavior is motivated
• Satisfy needs

Question 8

Fread drive theory - What is drive?

Answer 8

• Emergency warning system
  Constant needs are running and changing
• Initiate behavior till need is satisfied

Question 9

Freaud drive theory - Components/Model

Answer 9

• Source
  A bodily deficit
• Impetus
  Bodily deficits grows, results in anxiety (very uncomfortable)
• Object
  Behaviors to reduce deficit
• Aim
  Need is satisifed, anxiety goes down

Question 10

Freud Drive Theory - Criticism

Answer 10

• A overestimate of bodily influence on motivation, no learning or experience
• Single Case studies
• Ideas were not scientifically testable

Question 11

Hull’s Drive Theory - What is drive?

Answer 11

• Pooled energy from bodily deficits/disturbances, as for Freud
• Can be predicted before it occur, environmental needs*
  Reduce deficit = reinforcement and learning
• Energize behavior

Question 12

What did the drive theories rest on?

Answer 12

• Drive from bodily needs
• Drive energize behavior
• Reduction is reinforcing and produce learning

Question 13

Why did drive theories decline?

Answer 13

• External sources of motivation energized behavior
• Some motives emerged without bodily deficits
• Learning could happen without drive reduction

Question 14

What are mini-theories?

Answer 14

Seek to understand or investigate a particular part of motivation
- Does not explain all motivated behavior
- Focused on whats socially relevant, making it part of a lot of areas in psychology

Question 15

What does the new paradigm in motivational science focus on?

Answer 15

• A democracy of ideas rather than a big one
• Diversity of perspectives
• Several factors lead to motivated behavior
• Multidimensional
• The individual is an active person