module 6 - motives, cognition, emotion

Question 1

what approach does motivation take

Answer 1

more optimistic approach to studying human nature than the Freudian psychoanalytic school of thought.

Question 2

what do motivational psychologists focus on?

Answer 2

growth, rather than deficiency

Question 3

motives vs traits?

Answer 3

Motives can answer the question of why people do what they do, whereas traits answer the question of how people do what they do.

Question 4

two theories of motivation

Answer 4

1. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
2. Rogers’ person-centred theory

Question 5

describe maslow’s approach

Answer 5

holistic approach to studying motivation
suggested that all people are motivated by the same basic needs.
These needs form a hierarchy. Needs at the bottom of the hierarchy are stronger than needs at the top of the hierarchy

Question 6

needs from bottom of hierarchy (most strong) to top (least strong)

Answer 6

physiological
safety
love/belonging
esteem
self actualization

Question 7

how does a person satisfy each of their needs ?

Answer 7

Basic physiological needs include food, water, and oxygen.
safety needs (ensuring security and comfort). This might mean having enough money or not being in a violent situation.

belongingness needs by seeking love and social activities
esteem needs by attaining status, admiration from others, and maintaining their self-respect
self-actualization, or the need to develop one’s potential.

Question 8

four principles that guided maslow

Answer 8

1. people seek to satisfy their lower order needs first. However, people can choose to ignore some needs for others.
2. One action can help solve needs at multiple levels at the same time
3. lower order needs will exert more force upon you and tend to drive most of your behaviour. This means that you can become easily distracted from reaching self-actualization, as you spend a great deal of time solving needs at the other levels.
4. the hierarchy should approximate human development. Newborns need to have their physiological needs met right away, and infants also want a sense of safety. As they become toddlers and young children, having friends and connections will become more important. As a person approaches the adolescent years, having a sense of self-esteem and being confident in their own abilities will matter more. Assuming everything has been going well, an individual may begin to approach self-actualization as a young adult and continue this into full adulthood.

Question 9

Describe some of the more recent research findings on Maslow’s hierarchy.

Answer 9

not all the studies support Maslow’s theory, some studies support its main tenets
- researchers found is that the negative reactions were strongest when subjects thought about not attaining the lower goals
- the opposite pattern was
found for the positive reaction ratings. When subjects were asked about attaining goals, they reported more positive emotions in response to contemplating the attainment of goals higher in the hierarchy.
-

Question 10

What are the characteristics of a self-actualized person?

Answer 10

1. efficient perception of reality
2. acceptance of themselves, others, and nature/fate
3. spontaneity
4. problem focus
5. affinity for solitude
6. independence from culture + environment
7. continued freshness of appreciation
8. more frequent peak experiences
9. genuine desire to help human race
10. deep ties with relatively few people
11. democratic values
12. ability to discriminate between needs and ends

Question 11

advantages and disadvantages of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.