Motivational Theories and Concepts

Question 1

Motives

Answer 1

are the needs, wants, interests, and desires that propel people in certain directions.

Question 2

Motivation

Answer 2

involves goal-directed behaviour. Motivation to achieve relevant goals can be an important determinant of adjustment.

Question 3

Drive Theories

Answer 3

motivational forces in terms of drives. The drive concept appears in a diverse array of theories that otherwise have little in common, such as psychoanalytic and behaviourist.
However, drive theories cannot explain all motivation. Homeostasis appears to be irrelevant to some human motives, such as a “thirst for knowledge”.

According to drive theories, the source of motivation lies WITHIN the organism

Question 4

Homeostasis

Answer 4

A state os physiological equilibrium or stability. Drive theories apply to this concept of homeostasis.

Question 5

A drive

Answer 5

is an internal state of tension that motivates an organism to engage in activities that should reduce this tension.

Question 6

How does the drive theory apply to the concept of homeostasis?

Answer 6

These internal tensions (the drive) are viewed as disruptions of the preferred equilibrium (homeostasis).

Question 7

According to drive theories, what will individuals do when they experience a drive?

Answer 7

individuals will become motivated to pursue actions that will lead to drive reduction. (state of hunger –> eat –> no longer hungry–. back to homeostasis).

Question 8

Incentive Theories

Answer 8

Propose that external stimuli regulate motivational states.
According to incentive theories, the source of motivation lies OUTSIDE the organism, in the environment. (they do not operate according to the principle of homeostasis).
Instead, incentive theories emphasize environmental factors and downplay the biological bases of human motivation.

Question 9

An Incentive

Answer 9

is an external goal that has the capacity to motivate behaviour.

Question 10

Push- versus-pull theories (Drive and Incentive)

Answer 10

DRIVE theories emphasize how INTERNAL states of tension PUSH in certain directions. INCENTIVE theories emphasize how EXTERNAL stimuli PULL people in certain directions.

Question 11

Expectancy-value models of motivation

Two Factors

Answer 11

incentive theories that take this reality into account. According to expectancy-value models, one’s motivation to pursue a particular course of action will depend on two factors (1) expectancy (2) the value)

Question 12

Expectancy (Factor of expectancy- value model)

Answer 12

expectancy about one’s chances of attaining the incentive

Question 13

The Value (Factor of expectancy-value model)

Answer 13

the value of the desired incentive.

Question 14

Evolutionary Theories

Answer 14

asserts that human motives and those of other species are the products of evolution, just as anatomical characteristics are. Natural selection favours behaviours that maximize reproductive success – that is, passing on genes to the next generation.

Evolutionary analyses of motivation are based on the premise that motives can best be understood in terms of the adaptive problems they solved for our hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Question 15

The Range and Diversity of Human Motives.

What do most theorist agree on?
What are two kinds of motives?

Answer 15

Motivational theorist of all persuasions agree on one point: HUMANS DISPLAY AN ENORMOUS DIVERSITY OF MOTIVES.

Two kinds of motives: Biological and Social motives

The strength of these motives varies from person to person, depending on personal history.

Question 16

Biological Motives (look at figure 10.2 on page 442 for examples)

Answer 16

motives that originate in bodily needs, such as hunger

Question 17

Social motives (figure 10.2 on page 442 for examples)

Answer 17

motives that originate in social experiences, such as the need for achievement