Advanced Placement Psychology Motivation & Emotion Advanced Placement Psychology Ms. Caroline Watters Marlboro High School

Introduction Motivation a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior.

Motivational Theories

Instinct Theory (Evolutionary Perspective) Instincts: Fixed action patterns that are not learned. Animals display many of these action patterns: birds migrating, mating rituals, dominance displays. Inspired by Darwin’s theory of evolution, early psychologists (led by William James) listed scores of human instincts including modesty, cleanliness, rivalry, and parental love. Instinct theory soon fell out of favor as it became evident that it lacked the ability to fully explain human motivation. Today psychologists taking the evolutionary perspective explore the influence of evolution on eating, selection of mates, expression of emotions, etc.

Drive Reduction Theory Replaced instinct theory during the 1930’s. Based on homeostasis (“standing still”). The body seeks to maintain a stable internal state, such as constant internal temperature. The body creates a state of tension (known as a drive) if any of its needs are unmet. Example: This theory states that a person will drink water as a result of a drive for satisfying thirst and eat food as a result of a drive for satisfying hunger (satisfying a biological need). This theory is still used to explain motivated behaviors that have a biological basis. It cannot account for things such as buying the newest cell phone, contributing to a charity, or participating in an extreme sport. Need Drive Drive Reducing Behavior

Arousal Theory According to arousal theory, humans are innately curious and seek out complexity and novelty. The Yerkes-Dodson Law states that an optimal level of psychological arousal helps performances. When arousal is too low, we become bored. When too high, we become anxious and freeze up. People thus attempt to seek a moderate level of stimulation. Ex: A youth soccer league proposes to implement a system that eliminates scores. Removing scores may improve the performance of anxious players, yet may cause highly competitive players to become bored, thus undermining their performance.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Maslow’s theory combines and prioritizes biological, psychological, and social needs. There is a progression of 6 needs. According to Maslow, people begin with basic physiological and safety needs. Once these needs are met, the individual “moves up” to high level needs culminating with self-actualization. Critics: Theory gives a vague definition of self-actualization. It is also possible for people living in poverty to develop strong social ties and self-esteem. PS BESS: Mnemonic

Hunger

HUNGER AND EATING Hunger Satiety Sensation of wanting to eat no longer wanting to eat

BIOLOGICAL SIGNALS Some signals sent from the blood - read by the brain “We are low on nutrients…FEED US” Cholecystokinin – hormone & neurotransmitter Signals-stop now! Glucose low - need food Glucose high- insulin released Leptin-hormone that tells whether to store or release fat

HUNGER AND THE BRAIN Much of the research focuses on the hypothalamus Ventromedial hypothalamus- satiety center Lateral hypothalamus – feeding center **may act together to create “set point”** Paraventricular nucleus influence hunger for specific foods 20 different neurotransmitters, each motivate different “hunger”

The Physiology of Hunger Body Chemistry and the Brain Appetite hormones Ghrelin Obestatin PYY Leptin Set point the point at which an individual’s “weight thermostat” is supposedly set. When the body falls below this weight, an increase in hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may act to restore the lost weight. Basal metabolic rate the body’s resting rate of energy expenditure.

The Psychology of Hunger Taste Preferences: Biology and Culture Genetic: sweet and salty Neophobia Adaptive taste preferences

Level of Analysis for Our Hunger Motivation

Obesity, Anorexia, Bulimia See Handout Activity

Sexual Motivation

The Physiology of Sex The Sexual Response Cycle Excitement phase Plateau phase Orgasm Resolution phase Refractory period

Levels of Analysis for Sexual Motivation

Factors Relating To Teen Pregnancy Ignorance Minimal communication about birth control Guilt related to sexual activity Alcohol use Mass media norms of unprotected promiscuity

Sexual Orientation Sexual orientation an enduring sexual attraction toward members of either one’s own sex (homosexual orientation) or the other sex (heterosexual orientation).

The Need to Belong

Sustaining relationships The pain of ostracism The Need to Belong Aiding survival Wanting to belong Sustaining relationships The pain of ostracism ostracism

Theories of Emotion

What is Emotion? Emotion a response of the whole organism, involving (1) physiological arousal, (2) expressive behaviors, and (3) conscious experience.

Theories of emotions James-Lange theory the theory that our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli.

Theories of emotions James-Lange theory

Theories of emotions Cannon-Bard theory the theory that an emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers (1) physiological responses and (2) the subjective experience of emotion.

Theories of emotions Cannon-Bard theory

Theories of emotions Two-factor theory the Schachter-Singer theory that to experience emotion one must (1) be physically aroused and (2) cognitively label the arousal.

Theories of emotions Two-factor theory Schachter-Singer

Theories of emotions

Embodied Emotion

Emotions and the Autonomic Nervous System Sympathetic nervous system arousing Parasympathetic nervous system Calming Moderate arousal is ideal

Emotions and the Autonomic Nervous System

Levels of Analysis for the Study of Emotion