Motivation and Emotion

Questions What is hunger? Do lie detectors work? What makes people happy?

What is Hunger? Motivation is not explained by just giving it a name. Drive Theory – eat to maintain homeostasis Incentive Theory – eating triggered by external stimulus Evolutionary Theory – eating preferences related to adaptive value Social and Cultural factors

What is Hunger? Regulated by hypothalamus – Secretion of orexin stimulates appetite Monitoring of blood – Glucose level, regulated by pancreas (insulin) Cues from the stomach – Secretion of grehlin by stomach stimulates appetite

What is Hunger? Innate taste preferences Classically conditioned associations Observational learning

Do Lie Detectors Work? The polygraph test is based on measuring physiological changes related to emotion – Galvanic Skin Response – breathing – blood pressure Assumption is that lying is associated with emotions such as guilt and anxiety

Do Lie Detectors Work? Physiological changes associated with emotion are generally not voluntary – Autonomic Nervous System – Limbic System – Fight or Flight Response The conscious experience of emotion typically comes after the physiological reaction to a situation (James-Lange Theory).

Do Lie Detectors Work? Polygraph testing produces a high false alarm rate. Emotions such as anxiety may cause false alarms. Not admissible in most courts.

Do Lie Detectors Work? Reading of facial expressions and nonverbal language produces higher reliability. Requires substantial training. Voluntary expressions produced by motor cortex, involuntary by limbic system. Universality in expression and recognition of basic emotions.

What Makes People Happy? We are not very good at affective forecasting. – Overestimate the emotional impact of positive events – Underestimate our ability to adapt to negative circumstances Hedonic Adaptation

Misconception Alert! Wealth is not a good predictor of happiness above a minimum level of income.

What Makes People Happy? Marital Status Job Satisfaction Personality – Genetic predisposition – Learned optimism