Lecture 30 Flashcards
What is Motivation?
Processes that influence direction, persistence, and vigor of goal directed behavior
What is Instinct Theory?
An early approach to understanding how motivation affects behavior
What is an Instinct?
An inherited predisposition to behave in a specific and predictable way when exposed to a particular stimulus
What are the characteristics of instincts?
Have a genetic basic
Found universally among all members of a species
Do not depend on learning
Have a survival value
What are the two major problems with Instinct Theory?
Tended to have little empirical support
Approach had circular reasoning
What was a modern approach to Motivation?
Drive theory, which related to homeostasis
What does Drive theory predict about motivation?
Physiological disruptions to homeostasis produce drives to behave in certain ways to reduce disruptions
What does Drive theory required?
Sensors to detect changes in homeostasis and a control center to activate/deactivate some kind of response system
What are the short comings to Drive theory?
People often act in ways that actually reduce homeostasis (e.g. roller coasters)
People often do things when their homeostatic balance has not be disrupted (e.g. eating when you are full)
What do motivation theories that emphasize incentives focus on?
Pull factors
What does Expectancy x Value theory believe?
A cognitive perspective that predicts a behavior is a combinations of expectations and incentive value
What are Expectations?
Strength of expectation that behavior will lead to goal
What is Incentive value?
Incentive that a person places on goal
What is intrinsic motivation?
Performing an activity for its own sake
What is extrinsic motivation?
Performing an activity to obtain external reward or to avoid punishment (e.g. money)
