Chapter # 7: Motivation and Emotion
Evolutionary
Theory
DriveReduction
Theory
(“push theory”)
Homeostasis
(“pull theory”)
Incentive
Motivation
Arousal Theory
(Yerkes –
Dodson Law)
Serotonin
Hypothalamus
Set Point
-set the state for psychology by establishing behavior as important
and observable, and subject to scientific scrutiny
-emotions developed because of their adaptive value, allowing the
organism to avoid danger and survive
-we have needs that must be fulfilled
-motivation is result of organisms trying to reduce the drive
-behavior originates from physiological needs (thirst, hunger, air)
-behavior geared to reduce need or deficit (drink, eat, breath)
-behaviors restore homeostasis
-state of regulatory equilibrium
-ideal internal state of balance
-when balance of equilibrium shifts, we are motivated to balance it
-theory suggests humans are pulled toward behaviors by rewards or
incentives
-motivation produced by need for goal attainment
-extrinsic: payment of cash bonuses
-intrinsic: training for a marathon because finishing would give you a
sense of satisfaction
-optimum level of arousal at which performance on a given task is
optimal; each person has his own sense of appropriate arousal and
acts in ways to remain at a comfortable arousal level
-Yerkes-Dodson Law: prediction about relationship b/t arousal levels
and performance, suggests there is an interaction b/t aroused states,
the difficulty of the task to be carried out and eventual performance
on task
-neurotransmitter associated w/ arousal, sleep, appetite, moods, and
emotions
-lack of associated with depression
-area controlling feeding
-if ventromedial hypothalamus is lesioned, the animal eats constantly
-if lateral hypothalamus is damaged, then the animal stops eating and
starves to death (LAT MAKES YOU FAT!)
-brain and endocrine system act like a thermostat
-temp becomes too cold: signal sent to turn heater on
-when set point is reached, heat shuts off
-if it gets too hot, the thermostat turns on the cooling system
Chapter # 7: Motivation and Emotion
Psychological
factors: culture,
externals vs.
internals
Eating
disorders:
anorexia
nervosa and
bulimia nervosa
sexual response
cycle (Masters
& Johnson)
sexual
orientation
(psychological
and biological
factors)
Intrinsic vs.
Extrinsic
Motivation
Culturally
Universal
Expressions of
Emotions
Culture: -TV commercials
-cultural “ideals” of beauty
External: -food is readily available
-school bell rings signaling it is time for lunch
Internal: -hypothalamus
-anorexia nervosa: eating disorder characterized by a weight of less
than 85% of normal, abnormally restrictive food consumption, and
an unrealistic body image
-bulimia nervosa: eating disorder characterized by a pattern of eating
binges involving intake of thousands of calories, following by
purging by either vomiting or using laxative
-excitement: sexual arousal
-plateau: increased breathing rate, muscle tension, <3 rate and BP
-orgasm: ejaculation in males and pleasurable sensations induced by
rhythmic muscle contractions in both sexes
-resolution: blood leaves the genitals, sexual arousal lessens
-refractory period: in most males, another erection or orgasm is not
achieved, women are capable of multiple orgasms
-one’s degree of emotional and erotic attraction to members of the
same gender, opposite gender, or both genders
-heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual
- 30-70% genetic: if one identical twin is homosexual/bisexual, there
is a 50% change the other twin is, too
-heredity shapes areas of brain that orchestrate sexual behavior
-sexual orientation influenced by gene found on X chromosome
-nature and learning
-intrinsic: factors originating from within ourselves
-extrinsic: factors coming from the outside world
-Paul Elkman found that individuals in all cultures tend to recognize
and express the major basic emotions (fear, happiness, surprise, etc.)
in the same way in terms of facial expression
-some kinds of emotional response are inborn in humans
(intrinsic) ex: feelings of accomplishment
(extrinsic) ex: money
Chapter # 7: Motivation and Emotion
Catharsis
-J-L: J before
L, behavior
b4 emotion
James-Lange
Cannon-Bard
SchachterSinger (two
factor)
Contemporary
Model
-Freudian psychologists
-release of emotional tension after remembering or reliving an
emotionally charged experience from the past
-coping device for stress
-environmental stimuli cause physiological changes and responses
-emotion is a result of physiological change; comes AFTER
behavioral response
-emotion is the result of neural activity, particularly in the thalamus
-emotions and physiological stress occur SIMULTANEOUSLY
-two component theory:
1. determine emotion from physiological arousal, then
2. label emotion according to cognitive explanation for arousal
-emotion is a result of label
-situation taken into account (S)
-main points of several theories
-emotional stimulus (dog) is appraised (judged) for emotional
response (Uh-oh!)
-emotional appraise gives rise to ANS arousal (heart pounds) and
releases innate emotional responses (face shows fear)
-appraisal leads to adaptive behavior (run from dog), causes a
change in consciousness (recognize fear)
-cycle of ANS arousal, behavior, emotional expression, emotional
feelings
-ex: American fondness for football, wrestling, or
violent movies serve as a safety valve for
aggression; exercise releases pent up emotions
-ex: if an argument makes you angry, it is the
physiological response to the argument, not the
argument itself that leads to feelings of anger
-ex: butterflies in stomach before game means
nervousness but butterflies as open present means
happily excited