Why we do what we do…and how we feel about it. Motivation Why we do what we do…and how we feel about it.

The class is stranded on a deserted island The class is stranded on a deserted island. The island is in northern Atlantic, & it is September. There are no other people or buildings on the island; however, there is vegetation. There is little if no chance for rescue.

Motivation A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior.

The Psychology of Motivation Motive – a stimulus that moves a person to behave in ways designed to accomplish a specific goal. Need – a condition in which we require something we lack. Drive – force that motivates an organism to take action. (biological needs like hunger, learned needs like money) Instinct – unlearned behavior that is present throughout a species. Self-Actualization – the need to become the best person that one can possibly be.

Early Motivation Theories Motivation is based on our instincts: A behavior that is patterned throughout a species and is UNLEARNED.

Sources of Motivation Biological Factors Emotional Factors Need for food, water, sex, temp. regulation Emotional Factors Panic, fear, anger, love, hatred Cognitive Factors Perceptions, beliefs, expectations… Social Factors Reactions from others ie: parents, family, co-workers, peers, friends…

Main Theories of Motivation Drive Reduction Theory Arousal Theory Incentive Theory Cognitive Theory Hierarchy of Motives (Maslow)

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. Tendency to keep physiological systems in equilibrium… Glucose levels, leptin, regulation of set point in weight not too cold, not to hot not too wet, not too dry.

BUT… why do we ride rollercoasters, and bungee jump?

Optimum Arousal Theory Motivation is tied to regulation of arousal. Performance is best when arousal is moderate. Organisms are motivated to behave in ways that maintain their optimal level of arousal.

Yerkes-Dodson Law This law states that an organism's performance can be improved if that organism is aroused in some manner. However, if the level of arousal increases too much, performance decreases. Of course, this level is different in everyone. An example of this is an athlete who performs better under real game situation than he/she does during practice games. There is more arousal (stress, excitement) during the real games which increases their performance. But, if the pressure becomes too much, their performance can decrease (e.g., missing an easy shot with time running out and losing the game -- choking!).

Incentive Theory Behavior is directed toward attaining desirable stimuli and avoiding unwanted stimuli. Emphasizes the role of environmental stimuli that motivate behavior Two Incentive-Related Systems: Wanting – being attracted to a stimulus. Liking – Evaluating how pleasurable a stimulus is.

Cognitive Theories Extrinsic motivation Intrinsic motivation involves engaging in certain activities or behaviors that either reduce biological needs or help us obtain incentives or external rewards Intrinsic motivation involves engaging in certain activities or behaviors because the behaviors themselves are personally rewarding or because engaging in these activities fulfills our beliefs or expectations

The Need to Belong Although healthy people vary in their wish for privacy and solitude, most of us seek to affiliate with others. Even to become strongly attached to certain others. Aristotle pointed out that humans are “social animals”. Being social help us to survive.

The Need to Belong Psychologists believe that real, true, close relationships are what matters to people. When we feel we belong, our self esteem soars, when we feel rejected self esteem declines. When we are separated from friends and family we are diligent about communicating. Homesickness is common for a young person off to summer camp or to college

The Need to Belong Ostracism (social exclusion) hurts. Silent treatment, turning away or being ignored. A person ostracized usually feels depression, tries to get accepted, then withdraws. In the brain, social pain behaves like real pain. Any pain gets our attention and calls for action. Constructive like seeking new friends Mean spirited or even drastic

Extrinsic Motivation A desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment.

Intrinsic Motivation A desire to perform a behavior for its own sake.

Hierarchy of Motives Biological needs Social needs Satisfying needs physiological requirements that are critical to our survival and physical well-being Social needs needs that are acquired through learning and experience Satisfying needs Maslow’s hierarchy of needs ascending order, or hierarchy, in which biological needs are placed at the bottom and social needs at the top

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Humanism Creator: Abraham Maslow Postulates of Humanistic Psychology: Human beings cannot be reduced to components. Human beings have in them a uniquely human context. Human consciousness includes an awareness of oneself in the context of other people. Human beings have choices and responsibilities. Human beings are intentional (Meaning/Value/Creativity). Creator: Abraham Maslow

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Cultivating Intrinsic Motivation

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

The Arousal-Performance Relationship

What Is Motivation? Factors that influence the initiation, direction, intensity, and persistence of behavior. Cannot be directly observed, must be inferred. Thought of as an intervening variable.

Write why you did the following things based on your experience during the past week. Drank water Ate healthy food Ate unhealthy food Selected a piece of new clothing or shoes Got in a fight with a family member or friend Drove faster than the speed limit or other dangerous driving Study for a test Take a test without studying Did something exciting or risky like ride a rollercoaster, walk through a rough part of the hood, etc.

Drive Reduction Theory

Motives as Intervening Variables

Instinct Theory Explains some animal behaviors Explains some human behaviors Does not explain other human behaviors Behavior patterns that are genetically transmitted from generation to generation. Most human behavior seems unlikely to be instinctive.

Instinct Theory Instinct = Automatic, unlearned, involuntary behavior triggered by a specific stimulus. “Instincts” became meaningless labels. Described behavior without explaining it. At least some aspects of human motivation seem innate - instinctual. Evolutionary approach Sucking Smiling and other facial expressions Mate selection – what makes you attracted to someone who you might have kids with?