Chapter 12 Motivation pt. 1: Drives, Hunger,
and the Hierarchy of Needs
Motivation Guides Behavior
Motivation:
is a need or
desire that serves to
energize behavior.
Behavior is guided by both
physiological and
psychological
needs/desires.
Evolutionary Motivators
 Instinct:
inherited pattern
of behavior that
is unlearned.
Most common in
species outside
of humans.
 Ex: Imprinting
Internal Motivation
 How
do you know when it is time for
a glass of water?
This Feeling of Thirstiness Creates a
Drive
Drive: type of motivation that is experienced
as an aroused state of psychological
/physiological tension caused by some need.
Ex: Sex Drive
 Drives motivate us to do something.
 The goal of our body according to some
psychologists, is to ELIMINATE all drives so
that we can experience homeostasis: a
balanced or constant internal state that the
body regulates.

Thermostat
Drive Reduction Theory
 Drive
Reduction Theory: idea that
physiological needs create tension
states (drives) which motivates
organism to satisfy the need.
 Ex: Thirstiness (physiological need)
creates tension state (drive) which
motivates you to get water.
 After you drink, the drive is reduced
and you are closer to homeostasis.
Drive Reduction Theory in Action

External Incentives Also Influence
Motivation
 Incentives:
a positive or negative
environmental stimulus that motivates
behavior apart from “need” to reduce
drives.
 Ex: money, etc.
Theory of Optimal Arousal
 Although
our bodies try to
reduce tension inducing
arousal, organisms are
often motivated by
curiosity (not a
physiological need) and
seek out arousal which
may help them gain
access to information and
resources.
 Organisms want to avoid
boredom.
Babies Explore their
surroundings out of
curiosity.
Monkeys Illustrating Optimal Arousal
Know Components of Abraham
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
 -Physical
Needs at
bottoms must
be met first.
 -Psychological
goals come
after…ultimate
goal is self
actualization.
Pyramid
Satisfaction- indicate the degree to
which you are satisfied that your needs
have been met at each level
 1 totally unsatisfied to 6 totally satisfied

Self Test
 1st-
reverse numbers 2,5,6,8,9,11,13 and
14

 2nd-
( 6=1,5=2,4=3,3=4,2=5,1=6)
Add up all numbers (use reversed
numbers)
 Total Scores range from 15 to 90.
Average score being a 60
Think about it……………..

Why do you eat? ( need at least 3
reasons)
Physiology and Hunger
 Stomach
contractions (hunger
pangs) accompany our feelings of
hunger.
Subject swallows
balloon, which
measures stomach
contraction
Subject presses
key each time
when hungry
Stomach contractions
Hunger pangs
0 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Time in minutes
9 10
Body Chemistry’s Influence on
Hunger
Glucose: blood sugar that provides energy
to the body tissues.
 When your glucose levels are LOW you will
feel hungry, when glucose levels are HIGH
you will feel full.
 The hormone insulin is the primary regulator
of glucose levels.
 Without insulin the body does not effectively
dispose of glucose and provide it as energy
(diabetes).

Brain Chemical that Affects Hunger
 Leptin:
is a protein produced by
bloated fat cells; when these levels rise
the body tells you to stop eating and
pursue some type of activity.

Mice Experiment
Neurotransmitters Influence on Hunger
Like
glucose, if the following
neurotransmitters are at low
levels you will feel hungry,
and if they are at high levels
you will feel full:
Norepinephrine
Dopamine
Serotonin
The Brain and Hunger
 The
hypothalamus is the main brain
structure which monitors hunger along
with other maintenance activities.
 The lateral hypothalamus brings on
hunger; if destroyed no interest in
food/stimulation will do opposite.
 The ventromedial hypothalamus
depresses hunger; if destroyed animal
will overeat/stimulation will do opposite.
Think about it …………………

What causes some people to become
obese?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDbo
cZ438f0&safety_mode=true&persist_safe
ty_mode=1&safe=active
The Mystery of the Fat Rat

Causes?
Hunger Hormones
Insulin-
controls blood
glucose
Orexin- increases hunger
Ghrelin- “I’m hungry”
PYY- “I’m Not Hungry”
Genetic Influences on Hunger /Weight
Number of fat cells is determined by genetics
to a certain extent.
 Set Point: body’s ideal weight set by its
“weight thermostat.”
 When body falls below weight; hunger
increases and a lowered metabolic rate
continues.
 Basal Metabolic Rate (metabolism):
body’s resting rate of energy expenditure.

 Some
individuals’ metabolisms are
much higher than others.
Time’s Affect on Hunger
 Memory
of our last meal can also affect
hunger along with our schedule of when
we usually eat.
 Amnesia Patients Example.
Learning and Hunger
 If
good eating habits are positively
reinforced and bad habits punished,
children will often eat healthy.
 People can also develop taste aversions
due to certain associations. Ex:
chemotherapy patients.
 Modeling: modeling of healthy or poor
eating habits can effect a child’s eating.
 Ex: Lebron James drinks Sprite.
Culture’s Influence on Eating

Although our preferences for sweet and salty
foods are genetic and universal, our culture’s
eating norms affect our specific eating habits.
Monkey Stew is a
popular dish in some
Eastern cultures.
This steak would seem repulsive to
eat to most Hindus.
Culture’s Influence on Eating (disorders)
Many argue the impossible standards of beauty put
out by popular culture has lead to an increase in
eating disorders:
 Anorexia Nervosa: eating disorder in which a
normal-weight person diets and becomes
significantly underweight, yet still feels fat and
starves themselves.
 Bulimia Nervosa: an eating disorder usually
characterized by excessive eating followed by
vomiting.
 Binge Eating Disorder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS2mfWDryPE&feature=fvw
Changing Beauty Standards Correlate
with Eating Disorders
MARILYN MONROE

KATE MOSS
Anorexia Often Ends In Death

Women’s Distorted Ideals of Body
Image
Thinnest
Women’s
ideal
What women What men
believed men actually
preferred
preferred
Women’s
current
body image
Fattest
Quick Write
Discuss the various physiological and
psychological factors that are
involved in appetite regulation. Pgs
459-497
 You MUST use specific info. At least 5
vocab terms. Underline the terms.
