Motivational Theories Flashcards
Define Motives
Desires, needs, wants that propel our behaviour
What are some goals (in terms of knowledge gained) for psychologists in this field?
What determines goals. What produces behaviour. What causes procrastinating. What got you out of bed in the morning
What are the four essential components of motivation? Elaborate
- Energizing: causes you to expend energy
- Directive: directs you in a certain line to satisfying specific goals
- Persistence: until goal is satisfied
- Strength: must be power behind it.
Give an example of something that uses the 4 components of motivation
Hunger:
- need to get up and make food
- Directs you to satisfying internal pressure of hunger
- Persistence: won’t ignore until satisfied
4: Need the endurance to make it through cooking i guess
Define motivational states. How does complexity factor in?
The force that drives us to pursue some goals/prioritize ones and avoid others (like pain). Complex goals need complex states
Give some examples of complex vs basic goals:
C: careers: (want money, fame, sex, security)
B: Food: satisfy hunger
Explain drive theory
Internal states of (physical or psyc) tension that DRIVE us toward a certain goal. Need to alleviate them. Internal/push outward
What is homeostasis and how does it relate to drive theory?
A natural balance that is disturbed by drives. Need to restore it (say, by eating)
In regards to drive theory, what two questions must be asked? What is an example of a motive not covered here?
- What is the motivational type?
- How strong is the motive?
A: thirst for knowledge
Explain incentive theory. Define incentive
Motivation comes from external stimuli pulling you
I: external goal with capacity to modify behaviour
How do Drive and Incentive theories contrast?
Drive: push from within, homeostasis
Incentive: Pull from without, no homeostasis
What’s one flaw with incentive theory?
Some behaviours do not respond to incentives
What are expectancy value models in regards to incentive theory?
Motivation depends on two factors:
1. Expectancy of one’s chance of achieving the goal
2. the Value of that goal to us
Ex: Will I actually get good grades? + What is that worth to me?
Explain the evolutionary theory:
Motivation (can you guess?) product of evolution. behaviours that maximize reproductive fitness will be passed on (how likely are you to fuck)
What motives are explained by evolutionary theory?
Powerful ones (and common); Affiliation, sex drive, dominance, aggression, achievement
Explain how dominance is an evolutionary product in men today
- females may want a dominant male
- steal yo girl
- Intimidation of rivals
- More material resources (successful career) attracts partners/ensures healthy offspring
What is the affiliation motivation for evolution?
Stronger links together. Hunting in packs, raising kids. Therefore sucks when these bonds break
Explain the paradox of self-determination theory
Some behaviours will be decreased after being rewarded. When a behaviour is elicited from the inside as an INTERNAL need, rewarding it will decrease it in long run
What are the three needs we satisfy with elicited (internal) behaviours?
- Autonomy: feelings of self control
- Competence: control of environment
- Relatedness: interpersonal growth tendency to connect with other people
What are the two types of motivation?
- Intrinsic/internal: inside oneself, hobbies, interests, pleasure
- Extrinsic/external: Getting rewards, avoiding punishment
What is the unifying factor between internal/external motivations?
The same behaviour at the same level of intensity can be caused by both. Like volunteering
Define flow
INTRINSIC motivation that completely envelops you in an activity. Time stops
What is the main difficulty of measuring motives?
People don’t know why they engage in certain behaviours/can express clearly why
Explain the initial candle problem. What was the result?
Box w/tacks, candle, matches. Experimental and control groups told to fasten it to wall without dripping onto table.
E: were given money upon doing it faster then a certain time
C: told to take time and “be creative”
Control group was actually faster by quite a bit.
What effect explains the initial candle problem?
Over justification effect: an unexpected external incentive lowers the intrinsic motivation to complete a task “I’m doing this because of money not self-enjoyment“
Explain the self perception theory
When people are given external rewards for a task, they will spend less time enjoying it and thus focusing on the actual task itself (instead of reward)
What was different about the SECOND candle experiment? What is the conclusion?
Thumbtacks were OUTSIDE box. E group was faster because less critical thinking involved (more obvious).
Conc: creative tasks are better approached through Internal motivation, and simpler ones through external
What function are intrinsic/internal motives better at? Example? (please)
MAINTAINING behaviour over external. Telling someones to clean dishes when they were about to. Now they won’t want to do it as much (need for autonomy/competence damaged)
How does intrinsic/extrinsic motives influence athletes as they grow older?
As kids, really good at sport because they enjoy it. As money is offered, pressure mounts and you head isn’t “in the game as much” and becomes less enjoyable
What do external stimuli prevent people from doing?
Finding their internal growth tendencies / passions again
What’s up with social motives/what is the caveat with characterizing them as such?
Technically bio motives, so no hard line here. Merely a convenience
What does everyone in the field agree upon?
Humans display a WIDE variety of motives
