Lecture 5 Flashcards
Motivation
vigor and persistence of goal directed behavior, helps move us towards our goals
Evolutionary Theory
motivation plays a significant role in adaptation; social need to affiliate, share resources, provide protection(safety in numbers), procreation
Drives
internal state of tension that propels one to a certain activity/behavior to lessen the feeling (if hungry you’re driven to eat)
Incentives
external goals that promote a behavior
Intrinsic Motivation
a motivation to take actions that are themselves rewarding
Extrinsic Motivation
a motivation to take actions that are not themselves rewarding, but that lead to reward
Delay Gratification
the ability to engage in behaviors that are currently unrewarding for greater rewards. Associated with better grades (more predictive than IQ), social competence, emotional intelligence, achievement motivation, higher SAT
Hypothalamus
primary structure of the brain which signals hunger and satiation (fullness)
Lateral Hypothalamus
turns hunger “on”. Stimulation yields increased eating. A lesion or damage can cause starvation
Ventromedial Hypothalamus
is the hunger “off”. Stimulation stops eating. Lesion or damage can cause voracious eating
Biological factors that impact eating behavior
Biological Factors
Genetics influence: metabolism
Bodily Sensations: growl, distension
Chemical Signals to the body (ghrelin-stimulates hunger)
Leptin- resistance: some individuals do not respond to the chemical message to “turn off hunger”
Genetic Mapping of “obesity genes”
Social Factors that impact eating behavior
Environmental influences on eating behaviors Complex and multiply determined Eat more in groups Expectation and Memory of Meals Palatability Social interactions
Psychological Factors that impact eating behaviors
Thinking about food and what it “means” Learned food habits/preferences Memories associated with food Belief and feelings regarding body image Cultural variations: robust = higher class Food as a ‘substitute’ for love, sex
BMI rates
25-29.9 overweight
30 or higher is obese
childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years
Health concerns with overweight and obese
- coronary heart disease
- type 2 diabetes
- cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Stroke
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
Three reasons we overeat
Overeating can result from biochemical abnormalities (leptin-resistant)
We eat when we are not hungry
Nature designed us to overeat
Additional factors associated with obesity rates
- increased high fat easily accessible junk food
- increased portion size
- increased sedentary lifestyle
Difficulty Losing Weight
Over eating leads to increase in the number and size of fat cells. When we lose weight we we experience a decrease in the size of fat cells, but not the number of fat cells
Dieting affects our metabolism; the rate at which energy is used. Our body adapts to less calories by trying to maximize the ways to turn food we do consume into fat
Anorexia
a disorder characterized by an intense fear of being fat and severe restrictions of food intake
Distorted self-perception
Amenorrhea
Peak age 15-19; > in females
Males do suffer from the disorder
4-6% fatality rate
Bulimia Nervosa
disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging
Can involve taking laxatives or inducing vomiting
Significant shame component
More treatable because recognize problem
Often in normal weight range
Long term health issues: ulcers, hernias, hair loss, dental damage, electrolyte imbalances
Kinsey Survey
Identified sexual behaviors/preferences
Self-Report Data—Bias Issues
Limited Validity
Important Beginning
Masters and Johnson
Need to understand actual sexual responses
Need direct systematic observation/measures
Subjects: originally used prostitutes (question generalizability… non-normative sample)
Recruited from the general public
Sexual Response Cycle
- excitement
- plateau
- orgasm
- resolution
Primary Findings and Phallic Fallacies
Males experience a refractory period
Prevalence rates of orgasm may vary for men and women, women may experience multiple orgasms although reports are that they reach orgasm less consistently than men
Concerns regarding size… does it really matter?
a. men express belief they are smaller than average
b.flaccid penis size is not a direct proportion to the penis erect
c. Research indicates that in terms of sexual satisfaction for self and partner: size: doesn’t matter
Gender differences in Sexuality
Males think about sex more and willing to engage in sexual activity with more casual partners
Males place more emphasis on youth and attractiveness
Females place more emphasis on intelligence and ability to provide and protect
Biological vs Environmental influences on sexuality:
Sex in the City Phenomenon
Homosexuality not considered a mental disorder since
1973
Need for Affiliation
Need to be connected/related to others
Hill proposed 4 functions we strive to affiliate
- To obtain positive stimulation in our lives
- To receive emotional support
- To gain attention
- To permit social comparison
Achievement Motivation
motivation by success
motivation by fear
Yerkes/Dodson
optimal levels of anxiety/performance (need a little bit of anxiety to performe your best)
Cognitive Part of an emotion
Subjective conscious experience, includes an “appraisal” or evaluation of the situation (some people afraid of bungee jumping, some people are excited)
Physiological part of emotion
Bodily arousal accompanies feeling states, get agitated when you remember something embarrassing
Fight or flight
Assess with GSR/Polygraph
Behavioral part of emotion
Body language and facial expression
Six basic emotions generally able to identify
Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Surprise, and Disgust
Display Rules
norms that regulate the appropriate expression of emotions, culturally determined
James-Lange Theory
conscious experience of emotion results from perception of arousal; “I’m scared because I’m running”
Cannon-Bard Theory
cognitive interpretations of a situation and response occur at approx. the same time “I am running away and feeling scared”
Schachter’s Two Factor Theory
People use two factors to identify emotion; physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation; search the environment for an explanation for reactions; look for external cues to help label emotions
Terror Management Theory
explores our need to use self-esteem as a buffer against anxiety over our mortality. Research has found that when “reminded” about one’s mortality (mortality salience):
Subjects give harsher penalties to rule breakers
Give greater rewards to those upholding cultural standards
Respond more negatively to those critical of their country
Show more respect for cultural icons (flags) and
value their spouses
