Unit 6: Motivation theories

Question 1

Which perspectives are there on motivational theories?

Answer 1

biological
behavioural
cognitive

Question 2

Which are the perspectives that receive the most attention now?

Answer 2

biological
cognitive

Question 3

What do biological theories focus on?

Answer 3

understanding the organic bases that underlie motivation and behaviour

Question 4

What does the concept of natural selection state?

Answer 4

individuals with genetic characteristics that allow them to better interact with the environment are more likely to survive and transmit those characteristics

Question 5

Is the environment a force to which every individual has to adapt to to survive?

Answer 5

yes

Question 6

How do organisms act on the environment? (purpose)

Answer 6

in ways that increase chances of survival and reproduction

Question 7

What does the theory of use and disuse state?

Answer 7

body parts and functions tend to be maintained and developed if theyre used
tend to fade away if they are not used

Question 8

Do evolutionary theories accept learning as a way beings adapt to the circumstances?

Answer 8

yes

Question 9

What’s ethology?

Answer 9

branch of biology
studies biological aspects of individuals in natural environment

Question 10

Which phases can instinctive behaviours be divided into?

Answer 10

appetitive phase
consummatory phase

Question 11

Appetitive phase

Answer 11

approach or search phase
series of actions carried out to acheive goal (get closer to stimulus)

Question 12

consummatory phase

Answer 12

execution phase
execution of behavioral patterns that materialize instinctive behaviour
can be specific to species (e.g. drinking of elephant vs cat)

Question 13

What does Lorenz’ hydraulic model state?

Answer 13

after accumulating energy, probability of behaviour appearing increases
the more energy the lower the response threshold
-> you act for no reason other than to use energy

Question 14

What is homeostasis?

Answer 14

dynamic balance that continually adjusts internal states to external changes
-> survival depends on this balance

Question 15

Peripheral theories

Answer 15

phyiscal signals of body coming from organs influence behaviour

Question 16

central theories

Answer 16

highlight function of brain in regulating homeostasis and motivation

Question 17

What’s activation?

Answer 17

process occuring in the when the body needs to carry out important activities

Question 18

Which types of activation are there?

Answer 18

physiological
cognitive
motor

Question 19

physiological activation

Answer 19

activity of sympathetic nervous system and some glands and viscera

Question 20

cognitive activation

Answer 20

analysis of significance of the stimulus
influences decision-making

Question 21

motor activation

Answer 21

when decision made: body physically prepares to carry it out

Question 22

What plays a fundamental role in the regulation of attention and activation?

Answer 22

reticular-limbic-cortical formation

Question 23

What does the dorsal area of the frontal lobes do?

Answer 23

processes coordinates motor activation

Question 24

What was Thorndike’s suggestion?

Answer 24

the consequences of a response influence the probability of its occurrence in the future
-> based on positive or negative consequences

Question 25

What is motivation defined as?

Answer 25

the forces that act on or within an organism to initiate or direct its behavior

Question 26

What does impulse theory state?

Answer 26

human behavior is driven by internal energy that arises from needs
-> motivates to seek ways to satisfy needs and reduce drive

Question 27

In the context of impulses, what did Woodworth clarify?

Answer 27

Magnitude of the impulse: strength of the response
Dimensions of approach: how we respond can vary depending on situation or individual circumstances
Continuity of behavior: impulses drive behavior until need is satisfied

Question 28

What are incentives?

Answer 28

goal objects that motivate behavior
-> drive us to or distance us from them
-> different values for different individuals or different times for same individual
=> generators of energy, emotions and carriers of information

Question 29

What did Pavlov prove?

Answer 29

through the association of stimuli, a neutral stimulus can acquire the potential character of motivation

Question 30

What types of reinforcement and punishment are there?

Answer 30

positive reinforcement
negative reinforcement
positive punishment
negative punishment

Question 31

reinforcement

Answer 31

motivating role
-> increases likelihood of behavior occurring
-> the greater the reinforcement the higher the chance of behavior increasing

Question 32

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 32

observing consequences of model’s behavior can influence probability of occurrence of own behavior in the future

Question 33

What did Premack propose?

Answer 33

reinforcements are associated with consummatory responses

Question 34

How are stimuli analysed and interpreted according to the cognitive perspective?

Answer 34

via perceptual. attentional, emotional and memory processes

Question 35

Who proved that animals dont only learn associations between stimuli and responses, but also develop knowledge of the environment?

Answer 35

Edward C. Tolman

Question 36

latent learning

Answer 36

learning can occur without necessarily demonstrating behaviour immediately