Motivation

Take a minute and think about what you have done over the past couple of days. What occupies your time when you are not in school?

Motivation A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior.

Food Water Air Shelter Sex Entertainment Security Friendship Family Love Achievement Let’s pause and discuss some various needs and desires of humans: Do you recognize any of your behaviors as meeting one or more of these needs or desires? Acceptance Laughter community fun freedom

Some of those are considered physical, some are psychological. Some are needs, and some are desires. They all act to energize and direct our behavior. Hunger motivates you to find something to eat. (More on this later) Loneliness leads to phoning a friend to go to the movies.

Psychological needs Four Big Players 1. Achievement: the drive toward significant accomplishment. This seems to be a very powerful motivating force for humans.

Psychological needs Four Big Players 1. Achievement: the drive toward significant accomplishment. This seems to be a very powerful motivating force for humans. 2. Affiliation: the need to belong, to be accepted, to connect with others

Psychological needs Four Big Players 1. Achievement: the drive toward significant accomplishment. This seems to be a very powerful motivating force for humans. 2. Affiliation: the need to belong, to be accepted, to connect with others 3. Power: the need to control others, the drive toward status and recognition

Psychological needs Four Big Players 1. Achievement: the drive toward significant accomplishment. This seems to be a very powerful motivating force for humans. 2. Affiliation: the need to belong, to be accepted, to connect with others 3. Power: the need to control others, the drive toward status and recognition 4. Curiosity: the drive to seek out novel experiences

Motivation Theories

Word Bank: Instinct--- a fixed pattern of behavior throughout a species that is unlearned. 1. Instinct Theory Instinct theory: one of the early motivation theories based on evolutionary psychology. Says that motivation is biologically determined

Instinct Theory Explains some animal behaviors Explains some human behaviors Does not explain other human behaviors

As instinct theory grew in popularity, it NAMED a lot of behaviors, without really explaining them. So, it sort of fell out of fashion.

2. Drive-Reduction Theory The idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need. The need is usually to maintain homeostasis. Word Bank: Homeostasis- balanced internal state

Drive-Reduction Theory We are not only pushed by our needs but. …... pulled by incentives: a positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior.

Optimum Arousal Sometimes we do not seek homeostasis. Sometimes we seek arousal. Ergot... our needs go beyond reducing drives.

Humans often behave in ways that actually INCREASE tension or arousal... “Optimum Arousal” lies somewhere between boredom and anxiety at which point an individual does his or her “best work.” Rock climbers, bungee jumpers, and sky-divers are evidence of this. A perfectly content infant will crawl away from her mother and explore her surroundings. A professional might seek an advanced degree even though his job is satisfying and lucrative.

3. Humanist Theory Abraham Maslow Humans are driven to reach their potential. Conceptualized needs in a hierarchy, in which some needs must be met before others. Maslow

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs