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Brain And Behaviour > Week 9 - motivation > Flashcards

Week 9 - motivation Flashcards

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1
Q

Define motivation

A

The driving force behind behaviour

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2
Q

What are the aspects that come with motivation

A

Determines aims and goals
Strength of motivation determines the likelihood of achieving goals
Influenced by internal and external factors
-experience
-beliefs
-physiological states

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3
Q

What’re the drives in the drive reduction theory (motivation)

A

Drive: state of arousal (caused by an unmet need) that drives behaviour

Primary drives: innate needs such as food, water, sex.
-we are more focussed on things moss needed for survival (thirst>food)

Secondary drives: learned through association with primary drives

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4
Q

Outline the drive reduction theory (motivation)

A

Unmet needs -> unpleasant internal state (drive)
Behaviours reduce unpleasant state -> drive reduction
Drive reduction is rewarding and repeated in future
We try to maintain homeostasis (balance)

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5
Q

What’re the limitations of the drive reduction theory in motivation?

A

External stimuli can activate drives (eg not hungry until smell food)

Can be motivated to behave in ways that do not reduce drives (eg seeking out new experiences, boredom, avoidance etc)

We often engage in behaviours when drives are satisfied

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6
Q

What is the arousal theory in relation to motivation?

A

We are motivated to maintain or restore an optimum level of arousal

Yerkes- Dodson Law:
Inverted U shape relationship between arousal and performance (moderate arousal equals high performance)

Stimulus hunger: can occur when under- aroused (fidgeting, fantasising, socialising etc)

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7
Q

Approach and avoidance theory in relation to motivation

A

Approach - predisposition towards certain stimuli (eg foods)

Avoidance - predisposition away from certain stimuli (eg menacing animals)

These can often be in conflict

Fundamental is you’ll either move towards something, or away

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8
Q

Incentive theories of motivation

A

We are motivated by positive goals (desired outcomes)

Intrinsic motivation: behaviour driven by internal reward (eg enjoyment gained from act itself)

Extrinsic motivation: behaviours driven by external reward/benefit

-inventive: a reward (or removal of unpleasant stimuli)

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9
Q

What is the expectancy value theory, as a sub category of incentive theories? (Motivation)

A

Expectancy value theory: motivation influenced by both value placed on goal and perceived ability to attain it

  1. Value: do I want this task? Is this worth it?
  2. Expectancy: can I do this? Am I capable?
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10
Q

Humanistic perspective on motivation

A

Humanists argue desire for personal growth motivates behaviour.

Maslow hierarchy of needs:
-lower level needs must be fulfilled before progressing to more complex needs.

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11
Q

Motivation and reward pathways

A

Reward pathways: system of dopamine producing neurons extending from midbrain to frontal and limbic areas, including nucleus accumbens.

Dopamine is released when a stimulus is rewarding - this acts as a learning signal to repeat behaviours.

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12
Q

Hunger and eating

A

Motivation to eat - complex interaction between physiological and psychological factors

We have a biological need to eat in order to obtain energy and nutrients
- metabolism: transformation of food into energy (glucose).

Hunger vs. satiety (not wanting to eat anymore)

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13
Q

What motivates us to eat? (Set point theory)

A

Set point theories of eating - individuals have a genetically programmed set point, or optimum level of body fat and metabolism that is maintained by homeostatic mechanisms

Limitations:

  • conflicts with evolutionary theories
  • does not explain obesity/eating disorders
  • ignored the role of learning and psychosocial factors
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14
Q

What motivates us to eat? (Positive incentive perspective)

A

Positive incentive perspective: the primary reason for eating is the expected pleasure of eating

This expectation is due to physiological and evolutionary mechanisms, learnt responses and social influences.

Positive incentive value: anticipated pleasure of performing a particular behaviour.

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15
Q

Hunger and eating - physiological processes

A

Glucostatic theory: hunger/satiety is signalled when blood glucose drops/increases

Insulin: released when we eat (allows glucose to enter cells), provides satiety signals to hypothalamus

Hormones from stomach/intestines: signal hunger (ghrelin) or satiety (cholecystokinin) to hypothalamus

Nutrient/stretch receptors: in stomach/intestines send messages to hypothalamus to indicate fullness

Leptin: hormone sends signals about fat stores

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16
Q

Physiological processes of hunger and eating : brain mechanisms

A

Damage to lateral hypothalamus -> decreases hunger (no ‘on’ switch)

Damage to ventromedjal hypothalamus -> increases hunger (no ‘satiety’ switch)

17
Q

What motivates us to eat (psychosocial factors)

A

Taste/palatability of food - innate preference for sweet foods, preference for variety.

Classical conditioning- conditioned to eat at certain times, response to stimuli

Presence of others - likely to eat more in the presence of others

Anxiety reduction - ‘comfort eating’

18
Q

Weight gain and obesity

A

More than 17 million Australians are overweight/obese.
If weight gain continues at current levels, by 2020, 80% of all Australian adults and 1/3 of children will be overweight or obese

19
Q

Theories of weight gain and obesity

A

Evolutionary pressures: the most likely to survive

  • ate high calorie foods
  • ate as much as possible when possible
  • able to store and use fat effectively

Cultural pressures

  • position distortion
  • beliefs around eating
20
Q

Physiological and genetic pressures in obesity and weight gain

A

Leptin deficiency: difficulty recognising when full and store fat more effectively

  • melanocortin-4 receptor gene mutation - inability to feel full
  • polygenic effects
  • obesity may damage stretch receptors in stomach

Concordance rates for obesity

  • monozygotic twins: .7-.9
  • dizygotic: .35-.45
  • monozygotic twins reared apart: .4-.7
21
Q

Neuropsychological pressure associated in weight gain and obesity

A

Sensitivity to reward - reward pathways, increased motivation to derive pleasure from eating

Reward deficiency syndrome - hypoactivity in the reward pathways

Excessive eating occurs to increase reward responses

22
Q

Eating disorders

A

Bulima nervosa:

  • prevalence in Australia 1-3%
  • cycle of binging/purging

Binge eating disorder:
-prevelance in Australia ~3%
Recurrent binging without purging

Anorexia nervosa:

  • prevelance in Australia 0.5%
  • mortality rate ~5-10%
23
Q

Sexual motivation - biological determinants

A

Testosterone - higher levels associated with increased sex drive

Serotonin - higher levels associated with decreased sex drive

Oxytocin - higher during affectionate interaction

Genetics - DRD4 protein (dopamine transporter)

24
Q

Sexual behaviour and physiology

A

Masters and Johnson lab research
4 phase sexual response cycle
Arousal cycle same for males and females
Basic biological drive, but sexual behaviours are strongly influenced by psychosocial factors

Excitement-> plateau -> orgasm -> resolution

25
Q

Factors that impact on sexual behaviour

A

Length of time with partner

Age - 79% of men and 69% of women aged 40-80 were sexually actively in past year (Could be because men die earlier)

Cultural norms influence sexual - related activities and importance of chastity varies.

26
Q

what social factors influence Interpersonal attraction?

A
  • proximity and nearness
  • similarity
  • reciprocity
  • level of physical attraction
27
Q

Sex differences in attraction

A

Males place more emphasis on looks and younger mates. Women on financial resources and older mates

Both place a premium on intelligence, dependability and kindness

Evolutionary (nature) vs. social role models (nurture).

28
Q

What is attractive?

A

Cross culturally, mean and women tend to agree on who is and is not attractive

Men like hip to waist ratios around 0.7, females like higher

There are some cultural preferences for things like body size

29
Q

Concepts of average in attractiveness

A

The more “average” a face is, the more highly rated it is as attractive

Holds up across cultures

More symmetrical, but nah also indicate a general preference for a more familiar stimuli

30
Q

Love

A

Theorists don’t agree on the types of love

Hatfield and Rapsons passionate and companionate love

Sterbergs triangular theory of love and three major elements:
Intimacy, commitment and passion
All three equal consummate love

31
Q

Hate

A

Sternberg (2004) sees hate as consisting of:

  • negation of intimacy
  • passion
  • commitment

Combinations lead to different types of hatred
-“burning hatred” is high on all three

32
Q

Psychosocial motives - agency

A

Achievement motivation: the need to be successful and avoid failure

High achievers:

  • select tasks that are reasonably difficult, but attainable
  • tend to be more persistent and take more pride in achieving
  • tend to attribute past success to themselves and past failure to external factors

High achieving not equal to greater ability. Motivation is also very important.

33
Q

what is Achievement motivation comprised of?

A

Performance goals - desire to attain a certain level and focussed on outcome

  • approach goals: motivation is desire to achieve goal
  • avoidance goals: motivation is fear of failure

Mastery goals - desire to improve ability and skills, more intrinsic value

34
Q

Addiction and motivation

A

Physical dependence theories of addiction

  • physical dependence - cycle of taking drug, trying to stop, restarting due to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms
  • detoxification clinics treatments based on this premise

Problems with this approach:
Some drugs (eg cocaine) have few withdrawal symptoms
Many people with an addiction will have an irregular drug taking routine.

35
Q

Addiction and motivation (incentive theories)

A

Positive incentive theories of addiction:

-anticipation and craving of the positive effects associated with taking the substance

Incentive sensitisation theory:
-the more a drug is used, the greater the positive incentive value becomes.

-explains why addicted people crave drugs even when they have developed a tolerance to the drug

36
Q

The neuroscience of addiction

A

Reward pathways:
-for drugs of dependence, reward pathways are initially activated (dopamine released) during drug use, and later, by even the expectation of receiving the drug (eg drug cues)

37
Q

Motivation and reward pathways

A

System of dopamine producing neurons extending from midbrain to frontal and limbic areas, including nucleus’s accumbens.

Dopamine is released when a stimulus is rewarding - this acts as a learning signal to repeat behaviours

Brain And Behaviour (14 decks)

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