MCAT Emotion

Question 1

Motivation

Answer 1

The purpose behind our actions.

Can be extrinsic ( external) or intrinsic ( internal).

Question 2

Instinct theory of motivation

Answer 2

States that people perform certain behaviors because it’s evolutionarily programmed for them to do so.

Question 3

Arousal theory

Answer 3

People perform best when they’re at an optimal level.

Question 4

Yerkes- dodson model

Answer 4

People perform best when there is an optimal level of arousal. Not too high or too low.

Question 5

Drives

Answer 5

Internal states of tension that cause us to work towards somethin.

Question 6

Drive- reduction theory

Answer 6

We become motivated when there is internal tension ( from a drive) to be reduced.

Question 7

Haslow’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 7

Prioritizes needs into 5 categories.

1. ( most basic) - Physiological need.
2. Safety
3. Love & belonging
4. Esteem
5. Self- actualization

Mnemonic: “ Peter saw Lily Eat Salmon”

Question 8

Self- determination theory

Answer 8

States that we have 3 basic needs:
- Autonomy
- Competence
- Relatedness

Question 9

Incentive theory

Answer 9

States that our motivations are based in seeking rewards and avoiding punishments.

Question 10

Expectancy value

Answer 10

States that our motivation is based in what value we see in succeeding in said task and our expectations in succeeding.

Question 11

Opponent- process theory

Answer 11

States that with drug use we our body works to produce the opposite effect to bring the body back to homeostasis. This causes tolerance and eventually addiction.

Question 12

Emotion. What are the three components?

Answer 12

Subjective feelings based on circumstances.
- Cognitive ( subjective)
- Behavioral ( facial expression, body language)
- Physiological ( autonomic NS)

Question 13

What are the 7 universal emotions

Answer 13

Fear, happiness, sadness, contempt, suprise, fear, disgust, anger.

Question 14

James- lange theory

Answer 14

Physiological arousal happens first and then we label the emotion.

Question 15

Cannon- bard theory

Answer 15

Simultaneous physiological arousal and cognitive labelling.

Question 16

Satcher- Singer theory

Answer 16

NS is stimulated which allows our brain to interpret the context and then label the appropiate emotion to the context.

Question 17

What part of the brain is primarily involved in emotion?

Answer 17

The limbic system

Composed of:
Hypothalamus, thalamus, septal nuclei, and prefrontal cortex.

Question 18

Describe the parts of the limbic system.

Answer 18

• Amygdala - involved in attention, fear, aggression, interpreting facial expression, and emotional memory.

Septal nuclei - involved in pleasure seeking behavior. Involved in addition.

Thalamus - sensory- stimuli processing station.

Hypothalamus- Releases NTs that effect mood.

Hippocampus memory- creates long-term episodic memories. Communicates with other parts of limbic system via the fornix.

Prefrontal cortex- involved in planning, personality, and making decisions.

Question 19

Stress appraisal

Answer 19

A way we evaluate a stressful situation. Happens in 2 stages:

• Primary appraisal- determining is stressor is stressful, irrevalent, or positive.
• Secondary appraisal - identifying if the organism can deal with the stressor.

Question 20

What is a stressor?

Answer 20

Anything that causes the stress response.

Question 21

General adaptation syndrome

Answer 21

1. Alarm
2. Resistance
3. Exhaustion