Motivation and Emotion

Question 1

Drive reduction theory of motivation

Answer 1

Suggests that behaviour is motivated by the need to reduce imbalances or drives such as hunger, thirst, or sex.

It is based on the idea of homeostasis - the bodies need to maintain a steady and balanced state.

Bodily needs are triggered when there is a deficit, such as a lack of food or water and the body is in disequilibrium.

This need activates a drive, which motivates us to eat or drink (any relevant action) to return our body to homeostasis.

Question 2

Motivation

Answer 2

A need or desire that directs behaviour

Question 3

Sensation Seeking theory

Answer 3

Proposes that an individual’s need for varied or novel experiences is the basis of motivation. We feel driven to experience stimulation and increase our arousal levels.

Question 4

Experience seeking

Answer 4

A desire for novel sensory or mental experiences

Question 5

Thrill or Adventure-seeking

Answer 5

An attraction to risky or fear-inspiring activities such as skydiving

Question 6

Disinhibition

Answer 6

A loss of self-control

Question 7

Boredom susceptibility

Answer 7

The inability to tolerate monotony or repetition

Question 8

The Yerkes-Dodson law

Answer 8

States that we usually perform most activities best when moderately aroused, and efficiency of performance is usually lower when arousal is either very high or very low.
- We tend to perform difficult or newly learned tasks better at a lower level of arousal, but we tend to perform very easy or well-learned tasks at a higher level of arousal.

Question 9

Competence (Self-determination theory of motivation)

Answer 9

The ability, strength or intellect to accomplish a task

Question 10

Autonomy (Self-determination theory of motivation)

Answer 10

The feeling of being in charge of your own goals and behaviour

Question 11

Relatedness (Self-determination theory of motivation)

Answer 11

A sense of social belonging

Question 12

Intrinsic Motivation

Answer 12

Motivation to perform a behaviour for one’s own sake - it enhances the 3 ‘CAR’ needs

Question 13

Extrinsically Motivated

Answer 13

Performing behaviours only due to the promise of some reward or to avoid punishment.

Question 14

Lewin’s Motivational Conflicts Theory

Answer 14

1) Approach-approach conflicts - involves two positive options but you can only have one…
2) Aviodence - avoidance conflicts - two negative options and you must choose one.
3) Approach-avoidance conflicts - whether or not to choose an option with both positive and negative consequences.

Question 15

Hunger Motivation

Answer 15

• Hormones, regulated by the hypothalamus via the pituitary gland
• Grahlin - sends ‘I am hungry signal to the brain’
• Leptin - brain increases metabolism and decreases hunger

Question 16

Emotion

Answer 16

• Also known as an ‘affect’
• Is a complex psychological process that is distinguished from reasoning or knowledge

Question 17

Facial-feedback hypothesis

Answer 17

Suggests that our facial expressions affect our emotional experiences. Smiling seems to result in positive moods and frowning in negative moods.

Question 18

Cognitively labelling

Answer 18

-An emotional experience requires a conscious interpretation of the arousal.
- Labelling the arousal - “scary” or “angry”

Question 19

Cognitive appraisal theory

Answer 19

Our emotional experience does not require conscious thinking. Emotions arise when we interpret an event as either harmless or dangerous - a mental function that we are not aware we are performing.

Question 20

The Broaden and Build Theory

Answer 20

Argues that positive emotional experiences can have knock-on effects, such as resilience and enhancing mental health

Question 21

Display rules

Answer 21

Standards as to how individuals display feelings within their given societies

Question 22

Elicitors for emotions

Answer 22

A facial emotional expression - which differs across cultures