WK 2 Motivation Flashcards
Motivation definition
driver of directed behaviours; particularly our wants and needs
2 drives
- Biological
- Social
Biological drives
- primary
- e.g. thirst, hunger
Social drives
- secondary
- e.g. achievement, affiliation
Approach motivation
propel engagement in some behaviours
Avoidance motivation
repel engagement in some behaviours
EARLY PERSPECTIVES
Psychodynamic perspective (Freud)
- behaviour is motivated by unconscious and conscious desires (not in unison)
- 3 theoretical constructs of psyche
- Id
- Superego
- Ego
Id
unconscious, instinctual, irrational drives
wants to cheat
Superego
morally responsible drives, operates at preconscious awareness (holds back)
Ego
conscious, rational mind, ensures id and superego manifest appropriately
HISTORICAL MEASURES
Thematic Apperception Tests
(TATs)
- claim to measure unconscious desires
- assessed 4 social motives:
- achievement
- power
- affiliation
- intimacy
- self-report survey of motives
Drive reduction theories (DRT)
- thirst, hunger and sexual frustration drive us to reduce the aversiveness of these states
- motivated to maintain psychological homeostasis (or equilibrium)
Yerkes-Dodson Law
- arousal affects strength of drive
- pro athletes perform better with crowd, novice athletes perform better without crowd
- under-arousal causes stimulus hunger (a drive for stimulation)
Clashing Drives
- approach-approach conflict (dinner vs concert)
- avoidance-avoidance conflict (failing exam vs studying for exam)
- approach-avoidance conflict (attractive person vs fear of rejection)
Incentive theories
- suggest DRT is inadequate as we repeatedly engage in behaviour despite satisfaction of drives
- Incentive theories build on DRT- driven by positive goals
- Differentiates between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
- Intrinsic motivation can be devalued by extrinsic reinforcements
Relative importance of needs
physiological > psychological
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
- physiological needs
- safety and security
- love and belonging
- self-esteem
- self-actualisation
SEXUAL MOTIVATION
Libido
human sexual desire
SEXUAL MOTIVATION
Physiological drivers of libido
- testosterone
- protein (DRD4) related to a neurotransmitter dopamine
SEXUAL MOTIVATION
4 phases of sexual response cycle
- desire
- excitement
- orgasm
- resolution
SEXUAL MOTIVATION
Sex and ageing
- sex more frequent early in relationships x2 per week
- satisfaction does not decrease with age
- health people in 70s and 80s remain sexually active
Goal setting , what works?
Specific Measurable Action-oriented Realistic Time-based
Important part of goal setting
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