Psych 5 Flashcards
William James and William Mcdougall
Proponents of instinct theory of motivation
Instinct theory of motiation
people perform behavior due to instinct
Arousal theory of emotion
People perform actions to maintain the optimal state of arousal. Not too high and not too low.
Drives
a drive is a sense of urgency, stemming from physiological feelings of discomfort, including, thirst, hunger, and tiredness. (homeostasis)
Primary drives = bodily processes
Secondary drives = accomplishments and emotions
Needs
this includes drives as well as higher-level needs, such as self-actualization (realizing one’s full potential, finding meaning outside one’s self).
Drive reduction theory
states that a physiological discomfort will cause someone to carry out a certain behavior to ease that discomfort. (i.e. you feel thirsty, so you drink water).
Incentive theory
states that our behavior is a result of conscious choices that we make to minimize pain and maximize pleasure.
Expectancy-value theory
states that the amount of motivation for a task is based on the individual’s expectation of success and the amount that success is valued
Goal-Setting theory
states that there is a link between goal setting and task performance, and that by setting and achieving small goals (and receiving positive feedback), we are more likely to accomplish more difficult goals later.
Need-based theory of motivation
“Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”, developed by Abraham Maslow, states that there are five levels of human needs (from low-level to higher-level needs). Levels include:
1) Physiological needs- includes the need to maintain homeostasis (food, water, body temperature, oxygen, ability to reproduce).
2) Safety needs- includes the need to feel safe and protected in one’s environment.
3) Social needs- includes the need to feel like you belong (feelings of love and appreciation, avoidance of loneliness).
4) Esteem needs- includes the need to achieve independence, self-esteem, and to receive respect from peers.
5) Self-actualization- when all these needs are met, one can realize one’s full potential, and find external meaning.
Self-determination tehroy
emphasizes the role of three universal needs in order to develop healthy relationships with oneself and others: autonomy, competence and relatedness
Opponent-process theory
explains motivation for drug use: as drug use increases, the body counteracts its effects, leading to tolerance and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms
Biological motivators
includes hunger, thirst, sex drive, body temperature, etc. (e.g., If we are hungry, we look for something to eat. If we are thirsty, we seek out water to drink.)
Sociocultural motivators
includes social constructs as motivators (e.g., what is socially considered the “ideal” body weight and appearance may affect how much you exercise and eat).
Cognitive
this is how you choose to interpret your emotion. For example, if your father is having heart surgery, you may understand this to be a dangerous situation, and dangerous situations make you nervous.
Physiological
this is how your body physically reacts to any given emotion. For example, if you are nervous, you may feel your heart beat faster, have sweaty palms, etc.
Behavioral
this is how you express your emotion. So, if you are nervous, perhaps you will bounce your legs, tap your pencil, pace back and forth, etc.
Seven universally recognized emotions:
Happiness/joy, Sadness, Fear, Surprise, Disgust, Anger, Contempt
The Yerkes-Dodson Law
states that people tend to perform at their optimum ability when they are moderately emotionally stimulated (arousal). This is to say that when people are extremely emotional, or totally non-emotional, they are less likely to perform at their best.
James-Lange theory of emotion
physiological arrousal precedes the experienceing of emotions
Cannon-Bard theory of emotion
states that the physiological and cognitive aspects of emotion occur independently and simultaneously. Once these have occurred, the behavioral aspect will be carried out.
Schachter-Singer theory of emotion
states that in emotion, we first experience physiological stimulation, then we cognitively interpret what is happening (including surrounding context), which then leads us to the emotion we are experiencing.
The amygdala is largely responsible for
the emotions we experience. Helps us to interpret facial expressions and is part of the intrinsic memory system for emotional memeory (e.g. remembering the actual feeling of emotion)
The hypothalamus
interacts with the prefrontal cortex. This area of the brain decides how someone will choose to behave because of an emotion they are experiencing. (Releases neurotransmitters that affect mood and arousal.)
William Master and Virginia Johnson
measured physiological arousal during sex in males and females and found similar levels between the two. Therefore, differences due to cultural
Alfred Kinsey
Studied how often people had sex and with whom
Thalamus
is the sensory processing station
Hippocampus
creates long-term explicit (episodic) memories. (storage and retrieval of emotional memory).
Prefrontal cortex
planning, expressing personality and making decisions
Ventral prefrontal cortex
experiencing emotion
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
controlling emotional responses from the amygdala and decision-making.
Primary appraisal
classifying a potential stressor as irrelevant, bening, positive or stressful
Secondary appraisal
directed at avaluating if the organism can cope with the stress, based on harm threat and challenge. If believe can cope, will have less stress
eustress
positive stressor
distress
unpleasant stressor
Three stages of general adaptation syndrome (Hans selye)
alarm, resistance and exhaustion
Approach-Approach conflict
Need to choose between 2 desireable options
Avoidance-Avoidance
choose between 2 undesireable options
Approach-Avoidance
only one choise but outcome could be positive or negative
