Themes in Motivation (chpt. 1)

Question 1

Motivation

Answer 1

what moves us

• achievement
• approval
• positive emotions
• money
• family support
• community
• fear
• experiences

who motivates

• parents
• media
• marketers

Question 2

Motivation Theory

Answer 2

Every behavior has a cause. 
Main issues: What causes or controls
the energy ('arousal') driving behavior;
what the behavior is directed toward; and
how persistent the behavior is.

Question 3

Approach and Avoidance

Motivation Theory

Answer 3

Approach is easiest to understand. But avoidance is the strongest. Avoidance motivates activate survival systems originally related to life and death situations

Question 4

Motivation Theory

Answer 4

Evolutionary adaptations are a strong theme in modern motivation theory. Adaptations are often felt as emotions. Emotions are closely related to brain neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are another strong theme in modern motivation theory

Humans have many motivations in common but larger differences in emphasis

Question 5

Voluntarism

Answer 5

Thought and emotions are both under the control of the will

Question 6

Arousal

Motivational Theory

Answer 6

energy, direction, and persistence are the three aspects of will studied in modern motivations theory

Question 7

Instinct

Answer 7

A complex,unlearned, behavior that has the same form throughout a species the term is often used loosely: Any inborn behavior tendency

Question 8

Aquinas

Answer 8

Animal behavior is run by instinct, but not human behavior

Question 9

Descartes

Answer 9

was the main founder of psychological dualism Human body, but not mind, controlled by instinct maintained human responsibility

Question 10

William James

Answer 10

included many instincts were theorized.

Question 11

Darwin

Answer 11

Evolutionary Theory humans evolved from animals and have instincts like animals . Both mind and body are formed through evolution.

Modern evolution theorists suggest ‘high level’ evolutionary traits.
–e.g., men may be more sexually jealous than women, because male sexual jealousy helps ensure children will have the man’s genes.

high level evolution traits- logic

low level evolution traits
not thought through

Question 12

Freuds Instinct theory

Answer 12

instincts are inborn but not fixed behavior patterns. Libido the largest part of eros is energy for sex related behaviors not a behavior itself.

Question 13

Learning Theory

Answer 13

: Instincts are not scientific (e.g., saying Jill likes to win because she ‘has a winning instinct’ just adds the word ‘instinct’).Saying ‘Jill associates winning with social approval’ is scientific (e.g., we can test it with people besides Jill)

Watson (the ‘father of behaviorism’) accepted few instincts; explained motivation through association.
Hull called instincts ‘drives’; explained motivation as ‘habits’ associated with drives.

Question 14

Skinner

Answer 14

Rejected all unobservables including drives, instincts even thought as any affect on behavior. If behavior X increases when Y (e.g., food, social approval) occurs afterward, then Y is reinforcement. Skinner discovered some important principles of motivation.
Partial reinforcement (reinforce only sometimes) causes  more persistent behavior.
Seen in many behaviors, e.g., gambling and fishing.

Question 15

Social Learning Theory

Answer 15

Same factors as earlier LT (e.g., associations strengthened by repetition and reinforcement).
With a big difference: ‘Thoughts’ inside a ‘mind.’
SLT: thought–‘Jimmy stayed in his desk and got a reward; so, if I stay in my desk, I will get a reward.’
Called ‘modeling.’

In SLT, even non-reinforced behaviors are modeled.
Recent support: Some patients with frontal lobe damage will mimic all behaviors they see.
Problems for SLT, e.g., some violence not learned through modeling.

Question 16

Need Theories

Answer 16

A limited set of needs, with individual differences. It is usually assumed that the ‘set of needs’ are inborn (but connection with ‘instincts’ is resisted).

David McClelland (now the most well-known need theorist.

Question 17

Maslow Hierarchy

Answer 17

of human needs , physiological (hunger), belonging and love (being accepted), self-actualization (reaching a personal ‘highest height’).’Higher needs’ are not attempted until ‘lower needs’ are fulfilled.

Question 18

Factor Analysis

Answer 18

Usually called ‘personality trait theory.’
People respond to statements using a ‘Likert scale’ (e.g., from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’).
E.g., ‘I like parties’ (extraversion),
‘I am often worried’ (neuroticism).

Question 19

Growth Mastery Theories

Answer 19

Motives/needs/traits learned through interaction with an environment. Compare language learning. Children have inborn language potential.
E.g., humans, but not apes, can learn language.
All actual languages are similar (e.g., have subjects and verbs), but are also very different

skilled mastery vs. egotistical dominance

Question 20

Humanistic Theory

Answer 20

All humans are born basically ‘good.’
Some people achieve an (almost spiritual) state of higher ‘self-actualization.’

Carl Rogers emphasized the need for ‘unconditional love’ (‘positive regard’) from others if we are to achieve our highest potential.

Question 21

Cognitive Theories

Answer 21

Actions are often motivated by what we think will occur.
E.g., expectancy-value theory (cf. the ‘value’ we ‘expect’ to gain by acting).
So, we can control our motivation by setting future goals.
But first we need to believe we can achieve goals (‘self-efficacy’).