Unit 8 - Motivation, Emotion, and Stress Flashcards
A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior
Human behavior is directed by both physiological needs and by psychological wants
Motivation
motivation comes from a preprogrammed behavior in response to a stimulus - unlearned
Evolutionary Perspective/Instinct Theory
Our behavior is motivated by BIOLOGICAL NEEDS –> wants to maintain homeostasis
Drive Reduction Theory
We are motivated to seek an optimum level of arousal. Different levels of arousal for different people.
Yerkes-Dodson Law = moderate level of arousal is good
Optimal Arousal Theory
we are pulled toward behaviors by rewards (incentives) which can be extrinsic (ex. money, food, presents) or intrinsic (ex. want to prove to yourself, feel proud, no reward)
Connection to behavioral concepts i.e. operant conditioning
Incentive Theory
top to bottom:
self transcendence needs -> self actualization needs -> esteem needs -> belongingness and love needs -> safety needs -> physiological needs
we need the bottom rungs fulfilled first before we can work on higher needs
Not everyone gets to the top rungs
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Biology and Hunger
Housed in the hypothalamus, the arcuate nucleus—secretes appetite stimulating and appetite suppressing hormones
Hunger message:
Stimulated = gain weight
Destroyed = starvation
Feel full/satiety:
Stimulated = lose weight
Destroyed = gain weight
converts glucose to fat
When glucose levels drop = hunger
Insulin
tells the brain that sufficient fat stores exist, this signaling satisfaction
Leptin
secreted by empty stomach – signals to brain “I’m hungry”
Ghrelin
hormone to say “I’m not hungry” – digestive tract
PYY
triggers hunger, secreted by hypothalamus
Orexin
The hypothalamus acts like a thermostat.
Wants to maintain a stable weight.
Basal metabolic rate = the body’s resting rate of energy expenditure (vary amongst humans)
Set Point theory
Evolutionary psychologists would say the sexual motivation enables our species survival.
Sexual Response Cycle:
excitement
plateau
orgasm
resolution
Sexual motivation
We have a human need to affiliate or a yearning to belong
The benefits of belonging increase our chance of passing our genes on to the next generation
Being/feeling loved activates the brain regions associated with reward and feeling safe
Being excluded can have mental and physical risks
Social motivation
A mix of:
Physiological arousal (heart pounding)
Expressive behaviors (quicken pace)
Conscious experience (including thought and feelings)
Emotions
We feel emotions because of the biological changes caused by stress/stimulus
Body changes and then our mind recognizes the feeling
stimulus –> bodily reaction –> experience of emotion
James-Lange Theory
A.K.A. Thalamic Theory
Thalamus process both
things simultaneously
Stimulus triggers bodily reaction and experience of emotion independently
stimulus –> bodily reaction and experience of emotion
Cannon-Bard theory
Bodily reaction is the same regardless of whether it’s caused by positive or negative things. Brain must use outside information to label the bodily reaction and determine the specific emotion experiences
stimulus -> bodily reaction -> cognitive label -> experience of emotion
Schachter-Singer theory
Basic universal emotions
happiness, anger, sadness, fear, surprise, disgust
the process by which we perceive and respond to certain
events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging
stress
Good Stress – short or perceived as challenge
Mobilizes immune system
Arouses and motivates
Eustress
Bad Stress – prolonged and severe (harmful)
Chronic diseases
PTSD
distress
go-go-go, pressure on themselves, driven, competitive, and impatient, irritable when waiting, constantly multi-tasking
greater danger of suffering coronary heart disease.
Type A Personality
more relaxed and patient, not as angry
Type B Personality
Body responds the same way regardless of stressor
Three Stages
Alarm Reaction
Resistance Stage
Exhaustion Stage
Remember A.R.E.
General Adaptation Syndrome
Fight-or-flight: body mobilized for response
Sympathetic System Activated – flooding via stress hormones
Adrenaline/Noradrenaline = arouse body – speeds heart rate and causes the release of glucose
Alarm Reaction
If stressors not removed- go to 2nd stage
Find way to cope w/out being overwhelmed
Body tries to regain lost energy, repair damage and restore balance (homeostasis)
- Strategic planning, Venting, Substance Abuse, Exercise, Relaxation
Resistance Stage
Stressor still not removed
Your body is literally exhausted
Adrenal and other glands activated by fight-or-flight no longer continue to secrete hormones
Muscles wear out
Heart rate and breathing slow down
Remaining at this stage leads to health problems and even death
Exhaustion Stage
Stress and Immune System
Under stress people produce steroids
Steroids suppress immune system (during flight-or-fight immune system is not an essential)
If immune system not working, antibodies can’t be formed to fight off germs
