Unit 6 Flashcards
What are the three broad perspectives in motivation psychology?
Biological, Behavioral, and Cognitive
How do biological theories explain motivation?
Motivation is understood as the cause of behavior that is biologically determined, involving genetic history, personal history, and physiological correlates.
What are the key internal sources of motivation in biological theories?
Genetic history, personal history, and physiological correlates.
According to evolutionary theories, what determines survival and reproduction?
Individuals with genetic traits that allow them to better adapt to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
How did Darwin’s theory challenge other orientations of his time?
It competed with creationism and Lamarckism, which suggested that species were either divinely created or that acquired traits could be inherited.
What is Lamarckism?
The idea that organisms evolve by passing acquired traits to their offspring.
What is the theory of use and disuse?
The idea that body parts that are used frequently develop further, while those that are not used atrophy.
What is ethology?
The study of the biological aspects of behavior in individuals within their natural environment.
What are the two phases of instinctive behavior in ethological theories?
Appetitive phase (search phase) and consummatory phase (execution phase).
What does Lorenz’s hydraulic model propose about motivation?
As energy for a behavior accumulates, the threshold to trigger that behavior decreases, making it more likely to occur.
What is homeostasis?
A dynamic balance that continually adjusts to maintain stability in response to internal and external changes.
What are the two main theories of homeostasis regulation?
Peripheral theories (based on bodily signals) and central theories (focused on brain regulation).
What are the approach and avoidance motivational systems?
Systems that regulate behavior by motivating individuals to approach rewards and avoid threats.
What are the three implications of activation in neurobiological theories of motivation?
Physiological (neural and glandular activity), cognitive (stimulus analysis), and motor (preparing for action).
How do behavioral theories define motivation?
The forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct behavior based on internal or external factors.
What is the central idea of impulse theories?
Behavior is driven by internal energy that arises from needs and motivates actions to satisfy those needs.
According to Woodworth, what factors influence impulse-driven behavior?
Magnitude of impulse, dimensions of approach, and continuity of behavior.
What are incentives in motivation?
Goal objects that guide behavior by attracting or repelling individuals.
How does classical conditioning relate to motivation?
Neutral stimuli can acquire motivational properties through association with meaningful stimuli.
What did the Little Albert experiment demonstrate?
Fear responses can be conditioned to previously neutral stimuli.
How does operant conditioning explain motivation?
Behavior is influenced by its consequences—reinforcement increases behavior, and punishment decreases it.
What is positive reinforcement?
Adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., praise for studying).
What is negative reinforcement?
Removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., removing chores for good behavior).
What is positive punishment?
Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease behavior (e.g., assigning extra chores for misbehavior).
What is negative punishment?
Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease behavior (e.g., taking away a phone for not studying).
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Learning by observing the consequences of others’ behaviors.
What is creationism in the context of evolutionary theories?
Creationism is the belief that species were divinely created in their present form and do not change over time.
How does Lorenz’s hydraulic model explain spontaneous behavior?
If too much energy accumulates without an appropriate stimulus, the behavior may be triggered spontaneously even in the absence of a normal trigger.
What role does environmental stimulus play in Lorenz’s hydraulic model?
The presence of a relevant stimulus can rapidly trigger the release of accumulated motivational energy, leading to an instinctive behavior.
How does Lorenz’s model relate to the concept of fixed action patterns?
Fixed action patterns are instinctive behaviors that are released when enough motivational energy accumulates and an appropriate stimulus is present.
What is the threshold of response in Lorenz’s hydraulic model?
The threshold of response is the level of accumulated energy required for a behavior to be triggered. The more energy builds up, the lower the threshold becomes.
What is behavior release in Lorenz’s hydraulic model?
Behavior release occurs when a sufficient stimulus interacts with built-up energy, leading to an instinctive behavior being performed.
Can behavior release happen without an external stimulus in Lorenz’s model?
Yes, if too much energy accumulates, the behavior may be triggered spontaneously, even without the usual external stimulus.
How do impulse theories explain the relationship between need and behavior?
A physiological or psychological need creates an internal impulse that motivates an individual to engage in behaviors that satisfy the need.
According to Woodworth, what are the three factors that influence impulse-driven behavior?
The magnitude of the impulse, the direction of the behavior (approach or avoidance), and the continuity of the behavior.
How does the concept of “drive” relate to impulse theories?
Drive refers to an internal state of tension or energy that arises from unmet needs and pushes an individual to take action to reduce it.
What happens when an impulse is repeatedly blocked in impulse theories?
If an impulse is blocked repeatedly, it may result in frustration, aggression, or the redirection of energy into alternative behaviors
How does impulse theory relate to Lorenz’s hydraulic model?
Both suggest that energy for a specific behavior builds up over time and must be released, either spontaneously or when triggered by an appropriate stimulus.
How do impulse theories differ from incentive theories?
Impulse theories focus on internal forces that push behavior, whereas incentive theories emphasize external rewards or punishments that pull behavior.
What are the three implications of activation in neurobiological theories of motivation?
Physiological (neural and glandular activity), cognitive (stimulus analysis), and motor (preparing for action).
How do the approach and avoidance motivational systems function in neurobiology?
The approach system drives behaviors toward rewards, while the avoidance system motivates behaviors that prevent harm or negative outcomes.
