Motivation and Emotion
Objective
• By the end of this unit we will all be able to
give reasons for the physiological basis of
motivation, reduction theory, summarize
the study of social motives, explain
Maslow’s hierarchy, give examples of
physiological and cognitive theories of
emotion by doing class notes, class
discussion, and personal reflections.
Biological Motives
• Body’s nervous system is created in such
a way that any dramatic variations to salt,
sugar, water, oxygen, etc. can cause
change in behavior.
• Body works at finding the
balance=homeostasis.
Physiology of Motivation
• Hunger motivates you to find food.
• What signals you to eat are lateral
hypothalamus (LH).
• Without LH you will die due to starvation
b/c there is no signal to eat.
• Ventromedial hypothalamus is what slows
you down from eating-if this is removed
you will eat everything in sight.
Physiology of Motivation
• If VMH is destroyed, obesity can occur.
Drive Reduction Theory
• Emerged from Clark Hall.
• When an organism is deprived from
something it needs, it becomes
aggravated.
• Essentially, physiological needs drive an
organism to act it either random or
habitual ways until its needs are met.
Drive Reduction Theory
• In humans, DRT is different. Not only do
we need basic biological needs but we
also tend to strive for excellence, need
affection or amusement-all of which are an
extension of our basic needs.
• Infants become attached to mothers b/c
mothers are able to feed them and give
them affection.
Drive Reduction Theory
• Some psychologist argue with Hull stating
that there cannot be a general theory as to
what drives people.
• It can vary from person to person.
Achievement Motives
• McClelland studied achievement in order
to understand social motives.
• TAT-Thematic Apperception Test
• No right or wrong answers
• Subjects were told to make up stories to
pictures
• Answers were believed to reflect that
person’s unconscious desires
Achievement Motives
• If someone were hungry when taking the
test, they would make up stories that had
food in it.
• Then he gave a group of subjects a test
that they would do poorly on.
• They were allowed to redo it.
• Subjects became frustrated.
• He then administered the TAT.
Findings of Achievement
• Most cases were of men. Men tend to be
very successful when trying to achieve.
They tend to be able to look at things
differently and achieve greater success.
• Women fear success. Not enough
confidence.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Emotion
• Emotions are the feelings associated with
behavior.
• Motive and emotion are intertwined.
• Our feelings energize us and make us
pursue goals
• Anticipated emotions are the incentive for
our actions
Innate v. Learned
• Innate Behavior-part of our biological
inheritance
• P. 146 facial expression chart
• We can learn behavioral signals.
• We learn to express and experience
emotions in the company of other people
and we learn that emotions can vary.
• Smiles = happy, pleased
• Parents response to children’s outburst
can be angry or sympathetic-baby crying.
Physiological Theories
• William James- “Principles of Psychology”
• Summarized human behavior, motivations,
and feelings
• Believed that emotions are the perception
of certain internal bodily changes.
• Went against what most believed which
was bodily changes cause emotions.
• AKA James-Lange theory
• Cannon-Bard Theory
• Certain experiences activate the thalamus,
and the thalamus sends messages to the
cortex, which sends messages to the body
organs.
• Emotion means simultaneous burst of
activity in the brain and the gut reactions
Cognitive Theories
• Believe that bodily changes and thinking
work together to produce emotions
• Schachter-Singer experiment
• P.151
• Result: Internal components of emotion
affect a person differently, depending on
his or her interpretation or perception of
the social situation.
• Arnold’s Theory-emotions can be put into
stages
• 1-perceive a person, place, thing
• 2-appraisal-will whatever is happening
hurt, help or have no affect on you
• 3-bodily change
• 4-emotion
• 5-action