Motivation 1 Flashcards
What is an instinct?
An innate automatic, and unlearned response activated by stimuli in the environment.
Disposition towards responding in a particular way when confronted with a specific stimulus.
Which theory explains behaviour as motivated by instincts?
Instinct theory
State one problem with instinct theory
It cannot explain learned (secondary) motivations e.g. avoiding exam situations.
List the five needs in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Physiological needs Safety and security Love and belonging Self-esteem Self-actualisation
Is this statement true or false?
“Research shows that only the 2 lowest needs on Maslow’s hierarchy are hierarchical”
True
Humans are ______________ at any on time by a __________ ________ of needs.
Complex ; array
Which theory suggests that the aim of motivation is to maintain an optimum level of arousal (state of alertness, mental or physical activation)
Arousal theory
True or false?
“There are individual differences in arousal levels”
True
What does the Yerkes-Dodson law (1908) suggest?
At low arousal we are able to complex tasks
At high arousal we are able to do simple tasks
What is the Reticular Activating System?
A structure that extends from the medulla to the forebrain
What does the Reticular Activating System do?
It controls motor areas in the spinal cord and selectively increases arousal and attention in various cortical areas.
Briefly outline ‘Drive-reduction theory’
A drive is an unpleasant state of arousal or tension caused by a need.
The drive impels the organism to engage in behaviour that will satisfy the need and reduce the tension.
Outline the link between drive-reduction and homeostasis
When there is a deviation from the normal value or set point, the corrective action to return to the normal value is associated with motivation (instinct, drive).
Which two neural mechanisms are involved in homeostasis maintenance?
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland
Define “Alliesthesia”
Pleasure/displeasure of local skin temperature is a function of the internal state
True or false?
“Motivations have nothing to do with affect.”
False!
Motivations are associated with hedonic (affective) states
E.g. Positive motivations are associated with a positive affect (pleasure)
Which test was performed on animals to indicate their physiological state of motivation?
Taste reactivity test
What do incentive theories suggest about motivations?
They suggest that motivations have appetitive and consummatory phases.
What is involved in the appetitive phase in incentive theories?
- Means necessary to get to an end situation/goal
- Wanting
- Incentive
What is involved in the consummatory phase of incentive theories?
What the animal/human does in the end situation Liking Reward (avoid punishment)
According to incentive theory, motivations have __________ and ____________ phases.
Appetitive; consummatory
In the appetitive phase of incentive theories what is the incentive?
The incentive is an attraction/pull towards a reward.
What type of conditioning is involved in incentive theories?
Classical conditioning
- This happens between external stimuli and primary incentives such as food, water etc.
- Result = learned incentives
The consummatory phase involves more stereotypic behaviours in non-humans. Give two examples of stereotypic behaviour.
Eating ; mating
What is a reward in incentive theory
Contact with something that is regarded as positive.
What alters over time and can be assessed by time of contact with the reward.
Reward value
What is aversion in incentive theory?
Aversion is something from which the animal withdraws and subsequently avoids.
Describe what happens in the Mesolimbic dopamine pathway during the appetitive phase.
When this pathway is activated by a particular incentive, the animal tends to approach this incentive.
What four brain areas are involved in the Mesolimbic dopamine pathway?
- Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
- Nucleus accumbens (part of the ventral striatum)
- Amygdala
- Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC)
Which brain area is involved in learning about the conditional significance of a positive/negative event?
Amygdala
Describe research by Olds and Milner regarding the Intracranial self stimulation (ICSS).
Electrodes were implanted into the rat’s brain. By pressing a level, the rat was able to deliver electrical stimulation to the brain area that the electrode was in. When the electrode was placed close to dopaminergic axons coming from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) there was excessive lever pressing.
Describe the function of the nucleus accumbens.
It is the interface in which information of motivational significance is:
- Computed
- Transmitted to process that organise behaviour (motor control)
In the consummatory phase what is reward linked to?
Liking
Which system in the body is linked with the reward system?
The Opioid system