Motivation and
Emotion
6-8%
Mid-Point Assessment

Tabulate your data for the first 7 sections (Perspectives- Cognition)

Complete the midpoint assessment and plan

Menu of Available Options for question 6

Module Reading Review Guides

500 questions book section

Unit review guides (from Barron’s)

Unit review guides (from 5 Steps to a 5)
Motivation
 What
is motivation?
 Motivation
– a need or desire that
energizes and directs behavior; a force
that moves people to perform a behavior
Instinct Theory/ Evolutionary
Psychology

Reliant on the idea of instinct- a fixed action pattern
that is set off by a sign stimulus (something in the
environment that sets the pattern of behavior into
motion)

Does not adequately describe complex human
behavior

Genetics can predispose us to species-typical behavior
Drive Reduction Theory

Physiological need creates an aroused state
that drives the organism to reduce the need by
some behavior

The physiological aim is to restore homeostasisthe natural balanced internal state of an
organisms
Incentives

While we are pushed by drives, we are also
pulled by incentives: positive or negative stimuli
from our environment

For this reason, drive-reduction theory cannot
explain all human behavior completely
Optimal Arousal Theory
States that when all our needs are met we
become bored, so some behaviors occur
because they increase arousal (mental alertness
and excitement)
Too much stimulation causes stress, then we look
for ways to decrease arousal
Yerkes-Dodson Law

The principal that performance
increases with arousal only up to
a point, beyond which
performance decreases

New research also suggests that
performance level depends not
only on arousal but also difficulty
of task
Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow

Some needs take priority over others, and only
when lower more basic needs are met can we
be motivated to focus on higher level needs
Self-Actualization and SelfTranscendence

The highest and most elusive of Maslow’s needs

Self-Actualization: The motivation to develop to
one’s full potential as a human being

Self-Transcendence: needs to find meaning and
identity beyond the self (spiritual)
Self-Determination Theory

Three basic needs: competence, relatedness,
and autonomy

No deficit must be present- not drive reduction

These needs concern personal growth
Competency: two components

Self-efficacy- the belief that you have ability to
accomplish a given goal or task

Mastery- the sense that you can gain skills to
over come obstacles

This area relates directly to achievement
motivation
Relatedness

The need to engage in warm relations with other
people

Some psychologists would argue this is the most
important human need
 Supported
by research that when people are
excluded they tend to engage in a variety of selfdefeating behaviors
Autonomy

The sense that we are in control of our own life;
we have the ability to choose our fate
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation is based on internal factors
and needs (competence, relatedness, and
autonomy)

Extrinsic motivation is based on external
incentives (rewards and punishment)

Research shows that intrinsic motivation is the
key to achievement
A story of motivation…

While you watch the story, take notes on things
that fall within each of the theories of
motivation.
 Instinct
theory/ evolutionary psychology
 Drive-reduction
theory
 Optimal-arousal
 Maslow’s
theory
hierarchy of needs
 Self-determination
theory
Analysis of Aaron Ralston’s
Motivation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObPb01zGYRA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hirhsWXRazs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkGHN-8s5yw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM8x79kIsEA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIgwm2Lq4Q4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn9Fxw8MAlg
Although he finds it difficult and not
much fun, Thomas puts in long hours
practicing field hockey in the hope of
getting an athletic scholarship to
college. This best illustrates the idea of
 A)
Homeostasis
 B)
Attribution theory
 C)
Extrinsic motivation
 D)
Arousal theory
Hunger Motivation
Physiology

Your hypothalamus is responsible for monitoring:
 Blood glucose levels
 Ghrelin levels- hormone secreted into the blood
by an empty stomach
 Lateral
 LH
hypothalamus stimulates eating
(gives one LARGE HUNGER)
 Ventromedial
 VMH
hypothalamus reduces hunger
(gives on VERY MINUTE HUNGER)
Appetite Hormones
Hormone
Action
Ghrelin
Secreted by empty stomach; sends “I’m hungry” signal to
the hypothalamus
Hunger stimulating hormone released from hypothalamus
to the brain
Orexin
Insulin
Secreted by the pancreases when glucose levels are high;
converts glucose to glycogen for storage in the liver
Glucagon “when
Secreted by pancreases when glucose levels are high;
the glucose is gone” converts glycogen into glucose
Leptin
PYY
Protein hormone secreted by fat cells; when abundant
causes brain to increase metabolism and decrease hunger
Secreted by digestive tract; sends “not hungry” signal to
the hypothalamus
Physiological Weight Management

Set Point- the point at which an individual’s “weight
thermostat” is set; determined by genetics and current
weight
 If
the body falls below this weight, an increase in hunger and
a lowered metabolic rate strive to restore the lost weight
 If
the body rises above this weight, an decrease in hunger
and a higher metabolic rate strive to burn excess calories

Slow sustained changes in body weight can alter an
individuals set point
Evolutionary Psychology

Carbohydrates boost the levels of serotonin which has a
calming effect and makes us happy.

Preferences for sweet and salty are genetic and universal buy
conditioning can intensity those preferences.

Environment can influence the human genetics that affect
taste and diet. (lactose, spicy)

Pregnant women’s food dislikes peak at the tenth week when
the developing embryo is susceptible to toxins.
Environmental Psychology

Culture teaches us that some foods are
acceptable and some foods are not.

We eat more when we are with others.

When offered the option of larger portions, we
choose the largest one.

Food variety stimulates overeating.
Emotion
Autonomic Nervous System
Arousal
Heightened sense of activation
throughout the body
 Caused by the sympathetic nervous
system
 Not always fight-or-flight, also occurs
on a low level when we feel intense
emotion (fear, anger, happiness)

Theories of Emotion
Theory
Name/People
Approach
Example/Anal
ysis
For our analysis…
Biological Theories of Emotion

James-Lang Theory (William James and Carl Lange)
Stimulus from environment causes physiological change
 Physiological change causes emotion
 Each emotion is associated with a specific physiological
change


Cannon-Bard Theory (Walter Cannon and Philip Bard)

Physiological change and emotion occurs simultaneously
Cognitive Theory of Emotion

Two-Factor Theory of Emotion (Stanley
Schechter and Jerome Singer)
 Emotion is determined by two factors:
physiological arousal and cognitive
labeling
 We look at the world for clues to why we
are in a state of arousal
 We interpret external cues and label the
emotion
Behavioral Theory of Emotion

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial expressions can influence
emotions as well as reflect them

Supports the James-Lange Theory

Example: we smile because we are
happy, but we are also happy because
we smile
Paul Ekman and Emotion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFqzYoKkCc
Sociocultural Factors in Emotion

Emotions we can recognize on the faces of
others

Happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, disgust, and
fear

This happens almost universally

Display Rules- when it is appropriate to show
emotion, can vary by culture