Unit 2| Part 3 Flashcards
What are motives?
Motives are internal states that activate and direct behavior toward specific goals, generally generated by a deficit (e.g., hunger, thirst).
How do motives differ?
Motives differ in type, quantity, and intensity, depending on the situation or moment (e.g., hunger vs. thirst).
What happens when a motive is activated?
he motive generates a state of need or tension, prompting the person to seek to reduce the tension (e.g., hunger makes the person look for food).
Why are motives considered to belong to the “intrapsychic domain”?
Motives are considered part of the “intrapsychic domain” because they are internal states influencing behavior and are often unconscious.
Can motives be unconscious?
Yes, motives can be unconscious; a person may not fully understand what they want or need.
How are projective techniques related to motives?
Projective techniques are used to uncover unconscious motives, as they can reveal desires or needs that a person may not be fully aware of.
What do people differ in regarding motives?
People differ in the type and strength of their motives.
Are differences in motives measurable?
Yes, differences in motives are measurable.
What do differences in motives cause or associate with?
Differences in motives are associated with important life outcomes, such as successful business or good relationships.
Are differences in motives stable over time?
Yes, differences in the relative number of various motives are stable over time
What question do motives help answer?
Motives help answer the question: “Why do people do what they do?”
Who was Henry Murray?
Henry Murray (1893–1988) was a doctor who studied psychoanalysis with Carl Jung and later devoted his life to psychology.
What did Murray do during World War II?
During World War II, Murray left Harvard and worked in the “Office of Strategic Services,” the precursor to the CIA, conducting research on secret agent selection.
What contributions did Murray make to psychology?
Murray contributed to the development of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) and discussed concepts like “need,” “press,” and “apperception.”
How did Murray’s work on the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) impact psychology?
Murray’s work on the TAT was groundbreaking in understanding how people project their needs and motivations onto ambiguous images.
How did Henry Murray define “need”?
Murray defined “need” as a concept similar to the psychoanalytic impulse: “potentiality or readiness to respond in a certain way under certain given circumstances.”
How do needs influence perception?
Needs organize perception, guiding us to see what we want or need.
What do needs refer to?
Needs refer to states of tension. Satisfying the need relieves the tension, and the process of reducing tension is what the person finds satisfying.
What did Murray propose about basic needs?
Murray proposed a list of basic needs, with each person having a different hierarchy of needs.
How do needs interact dynamically?
Needs interact dynamically. For example, a person might have a high need for dominance but also a high or low need for affiliation, influencing their behavior.
What are the components associated with each need (e.g., need for affiliation)?
Each need is associated with:
A specific desire or intention (e.g., desire to have and maintain social relationships).
A concrete set of emotions (e.g., sympathy, happiness).
Specific action tendencies (e.g., accepting people, spending time with others).
Descriptive traits (e.g., loyalty, cordiality, kindness).
What is an example of a specific desire or intention related to the need for affiliation?
The desire to have and maintain social relationships.
What emotions are associated with the need for affiliation?
Emotions such as sympathy and happiness.
What are specific action tendencies related to the need for affiliation?
Action tendencies such as accepting people, spending time with others, and making efforts to maintain relationships.
What traits are associated with the need for affiliation?
Traits such as loyalty, cordiality, kindness, and benevolence.
What is “press” in the context of Henry Murray’s theory?
Press refers to aspects of the environment that are relevant to a person’s needs.
What are Alpha press and Beta press?
Alpha press is the real environment (objective reality).
Beta press is the perceived environment (how an individual interprets the environment based on their needs).
Give an example of Alpha press and Beta press.
If two people walk down the street and a third person smiles at them, those with a high need for affiliation may perceive the smile as friendly (Beta press), while others may see it as just a neutral gesture (Alpha press).
What is the difference between state and trait levels of needs in the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)?
The TAT can assess both state levels (temporary needs or desires) and trait levels (enduring characteristics), but there are very low correlations between the TAT and questionnaires measuring the same needs.
What is “apperception” according to Murray?
Apperception is the process of interpreting the environment and perceiving the meaning of what is happening.
How does apperception relate to the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)?
Since needs and motives involve apperception, the TAT asks individuals to interpret ambiguous situations to reveal their underlying motives.
What is the Need for Achievement (nAch)?
The Need for Achievement (nAch) is the desire to do better, be successful, and feel competent.
What types of challenges do individuals with high nAch prefer?
Individuals with high nAch are motivated by challenges of moderate difficulty, not impossible situations, where they can excel.
How do individuals with high nAch view tasks?
They enjoy tasks for which they are personally responsible for the outcome.
What do individuals with high nAch prefer in terms of feedback?
They prefer tasks where feedback on their performance is available.
How does the Need for Achievement (nAch) influence life choices?
The Need for Achievement extends to life choices, such as career and work, where individuals seek opportunities to challenge themselves and succeed.
What is the emphasis in the mindset for individuals with high nAch?
The emphasis is on effort over ability. For example, “You can do it if you really try,” instead of “You can do it because you are smart.”
How should standards be set for individuals with high nAch?
Standards should be tough but age-appropriate, encouraging growth while being realistic.
How should successes and failures be handled for individuals with high nAch?
Successes should be applauded and accomplishments celebrated.
Failures should be acknowledged, but not dwelled upon. It’s important to stress that failures are part of learning.
What should be emphasized to avoid the fear of failure in individuals with high nAch?
The focus should be on emphasizing the motive to succeed rather than instilling a fear of failure.
Is the need for achievement innate, or can it be promoted in children?
The need for achievement can be promoted in children through fostering a more adaptive belief system, focusing on non-fixed abilities, and encouraging effort over innate talent.
What is the Need for Power (nPow)?
The Need for Power (nPow) is the desire to have an impact on others, to control, influence, impress, and be recognized by others.
What does high nPow correlate with?
What does high nPow correlate with?
High nPow correlates with the need for control, influence, impressing others, and being recognized by others.
How does high nPow affect recognition of emotions?
High nPow correlates with a faster recognition of other people’s expressions.
What behaviors are positively correlated with high nPow?
High nPow is positively correlated with having more arguments with others, being elected as a delegate, and taking more risks in betting.
How does high nPow affect frustration management?
Individuals with high nPow may experience worse frustration management or increased frustration (stress) when facing challenges that block their power.
What is the Need for Intimacy (nInt)?
The Need for Intimacy (nInt) is the desire to have strong and satisfying relationships with others.
What is the preference of individuals with high nInt?
Individuals with high nInt have a preference for warm, close, and communicative interactions with others.
How do people with high nInt behave in social settings?
People with high nInt spend more time thinking about their relationships, report more pleasant emotions with others, smile, laugh, make more eye contact, and start conversations more frequently.
How does the Need for Intimacy (nInt) differ from Extraversion?
Unlike Extraversion, which focuses on socializing in larger groups and engaging in many interactions, nInt is focused on the quality and intimacy of relationships, often engaging in conversations about intimate topics rather than attending parties.
What are the benefits of high nInt?
High nInt is related to good overall adjustment, including satisfying work and life, and better coping with stress.
What does the humanistic tradition emphasize?
The humanistic tradition emphasizes awareness of needs, choices, and personal responsibility, aiming to create a meaningful and fulfilling life.
What is the focus of the humanistic tradition?
It focuses on the human need to grow and achieve one’s full potential, presenting a very positive view of human nature.
How does the humanistic tradition view human nature compared to psychoanalysis?
The humanistic tradition has a positive view of human nature, focusing on growth and potential, as opposed to psychoanalysis, which focuses on primitive impulses and deficiencies.
What is self-actualization in the humanistic tradition?
Self-actualization is the process of growing and becoming who one truly wants to be, realizing one’s full potential.
How does the humanistic tradition differ from deficiency motivation?
While deficiency motivation focuses on a lack of achievement and the drive to overcome it, the humanistic tradition focuses on growth, development, and achieving one’s potential.
Who is initially responsible for formulating the need for self-actualization?
Abraham Maslow is initially responsible for formulating the need for self-actualization.
Is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs based on theory or research?
Maslow’s model is primarily based on theory, though there are studies that support its principles.
What is the general rule about Maslow’s hierarchical order of needs?
As a general rule, lower needs must be satisfied before higher needs can be achieved.
How do lower needs in Maslow’s hierarchy compare to higher needs?
Lower needs in the hierarchy are more powerful or pressing when unsatisfied than the needs at the top.
Are there contemporary reinterpretations of Maslow’s hierarchy?
Yes, there are more contemporary developments or reinterpretations of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs from other approaches.
What are the basic needs at the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy?
The basic needs are:
Physiological needs (e.g., food, water)
Safety needs (e.g., having a place to live, being free from danger)
What do safety needs in Maslow’s hierarchy involve?
Safety needs involve building an ordered, structured, and organized life, free from threats, due to our social nature.
What are belongingness needs in Maslow’s hierarchy?
Belongingness needs involve being accepted by others and having a sense of belonging to a group, which is essential for survival according to evolutionary theory.
What do esteem needs include in Maslow’s hierarchy?
Esteem needs include both esteem from others (being seen as strong, competent, and capable of achievement) and self-esteem (feeling good about oneself).
What is self-actualization in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
Self-actualization is the need to develop one’s potential and become the person they are destined to be.
What was Carl Rogers’ focus in terms of self-actualization?
Carl Rogers focused on how to promote self-actualization and developed a theory of personality and a psychotherapy method to support this process.
How does personality develop according to Carl Rogers?
Personality develops according to how the individual gets closer to or moves away from their vital objectives, with a strong cognitive aspect involved.
How does Rogers view the life cycle in terms of personality development?
Rogers believed that personality develops throughout the life cycle.
What new perspective on early experiences did Rogers introduce?
Rogers introduced the concept of unconditional positive regard as a critical component of early experiences.
What is the goal of Client-centered therapy according to Carl Rogers?
The goal is to help individuals become fully functioning persons, who are on the path to self-actualization, trusting themselves, accepting themselves, and being in touch with their emotions (high Emotional Intelligence).
What role does anxiety play in Rogers’ theory?
Anxiety serves as an indicator that something is not right, signaling that an individual may be moving away from their true self or objectives.
What characteristics define a fully functioning person in Rogers’ theory?
A fully functioning person is someone who:
Is on the path to self-actualization
Trusts themselves and takes responsibility
Accepts themselves as they are
Is in touch with their emotions (high Emotional Intelligence)
Does not obsess over the past or worry excessively about the future.
What is the approach of Client-centered therapy?
In client-centered therapy, the therapist does not give interpretations or directions. Instead, they create the right conditions (unconditional acceptance and empathy) for the client to change and discover their own path.
How does a fully functioning person respond to setbacks like failing in college?
A fully functioning person might respond by reassessing the importance of perfect grades, seeing the setback as part of the learning process rather than as a personal failure.
How might someone with a less adaptive response handle a failure according to Rogers?
They may distort reality by rationalizing the failure (e.g., blaming the teacher or choosing easier subjects) to protect their self-concept of being intelligent, which could lead to increased anxiety.
What is Rogers’ view of human nature?
Rogers believed that human nature is inherently benevolent and positive.
What are physiological needs in Maslow’s hierarchy?
Physiological needs are those critical for immediate survival, such as food, water, and reproduction, which also ensure the long-term survival of the species.
What are safety needs in Maslow’s hierarchy?
Safety needs involve having a place to live and being free from dangers. They also include building an ordered, structured, and organized life, which is important due to our social nature.
What are belongingness needs in Maslow’s hierarchy?
Belongingness needs are the need to be accepted by others and to belong to a group, which is essential for survival, according to evolutionary theory.
What are esteem needs in Maslow’s hierarchy?
Esteem needs include the need for esteem from others (being seen as strong, competent, and capable of achievement) and self-esteem (feeling good about oneself).
What is self-actualization in Maslow’s hierarchy?
Self-actualization is the need to develop one’s full potential and become the person one is destined to be.
