Ch. 5: Motivation & Emotion

What do these have to do with motivation & emotion? Hypothalamus: Getting pleasure and avoiding pain are major MOTIVATORS – the hypothalamus controls these! It also controls other motivators like fear, rage, hunger, thirst, and sex. Amygdala: Controls aggression and fear – these are both EMOTIONS and also huge motivators of behavior. Reticular formation: Emotions and motivation require ACTION – which is controlled by the reticular formation.

What do these have to do with motivation & emotion? Pituitary gland: Regulates all the hormones that can get us going to respond to our motivators and emotions. Adrenal gland: Secretes adrenaline which GETS us moving to respond to motivators and emotions.

Drives and Emotion Motivation RESULTS FROM drives. You are driven to do something, and therefore motivated to do it. Humans are driven to seek water to survive, so they are motivated to find water when thirsty.

What causes hunger (and eating)? Stomach contracts when it’s empty Hypothalamus – stimulation causes eating even when full Low blood-sugar levels Relying on external cues to eat

External/learned cues for hunger & thirst Stress Food as reward Social situations Learning when we’ll need water (after exercise, etc.)

Contact comfort All animals (including us) need physical contact to develop properly (particularly cerebellum) Shown by Harry Harlow and monkey babies 37% of infants raised without touching and holding died within a year

Maslow’s Hierarchy

Universal facial expressions Joy Fear Anger Surprise Disgust Sadness

Cognition and Emotion How something feels is a matter of interpretation. We use situational cues to determine what emotion we should be feeling. Our emotional state affects how we view ourselves and the world.

Components of emotional intelligence Emotional self-awareness: knowing what we are feeling and why. Managing emotions: being able to control and respond to feelings appropriately. Empathy: Reading others’ emotions, take their perspective, and be sensitive.