1. Unit 8: Motivation and Emotion (….and Stress & Health)

3. Motivation Feelings or ideas that cause us to act towards a goal
General term for the biological, emotional, cognitive, and social processes involved in starting, directing, and maintaining behavior

4. Motivational Concepts (theories)
Instinct Theory (now Evolutionary Theory)
Drive Reduction Theory
Arousal Theory
Incentive Theory
Cognitive Dissonance Theory ***

5. Motivational Concepts (theories)
Instinct Theory
Instinct Theory: we are motivated by our inborn automated behaviors.
Instinct- unlearned behavior, passed down generation to generation
Darwin’s Evolution (survival of the fittest)
But instincts only explain why we do a small fraction of our behaviors.

6. Drive Reduction Theory
Motivational Concepts (theories)
Drive Reduction Theory
We are “pushed” to reduce our drives and we are “pulled” by incentives- put them together and we are REALLY motivated!
Our behavior is motivated by BIOLOGICAL NEEDS.
Wants to maintain homeostasis.
When we are not, we have a need that creates a drive.
Primary versus Secondary drives

7. Arousal Theory We are motivated to seek an optimum level of arousal.
Motivational Concepts (theories)
Arousal Theory
We are motivated to seek an optimum level of arousal.
Yerkes-Dodson Law
As stress increases from minimal, performance also increases.
However, one stress reaches a moderately high level, performance peaks.
More stress leads to decreased performance.
Therefore, an optimum level of performance occurs when stress is moderate.

8. TOPSS Handout 1.1: Sensation Seeking Scale
Motivational Concepts (theories)
Arousal theory assumes that people seek an optimum level of stimulation.
Marvin Zuckerman argued that people differ in the amount of stimulation they need or want and hence in their “sensation-seeking”
Moderate levels of arousal are adaptive (normal) but too low or too high is disruptive
Below optimal level motivates behavior to increase arousal
Above optimal level motivates behavior to decrease arousal
We all have a different “optimal level”

9. Demo: Sensation Seeking Scale (Arousal theory)
Motivational Concepts (theories)
Demo: Sensation Seeking Scale (Arousal theory)
4 Forms of Sensation Seeking:
Thrill & Adventure Seeking: seek excitement in risky but socially acceptable activities (sky diving); desire for these can predict behavior
Experience- Seeking: seek sensation through the mind, senses, and nonconforming lifestyle; free, unusual friends, frequent travel, artistic expression
Disinhibition: Those who have chosen middle class lifestyle, but find it boring, so they seek escape in social drinking & partying; “extraverted sensation seeking”(needing other people as sources of stimulation)
Boredom Susceptibility- low tolerance for experience that is repetitive and constant; become extremely restless w/long periods with little external stimulation
Type T- “Thrill Seeking”; high energy;

10. Motivational Concepts (theories)
Incentive Theory
Behavior can be pulled by a desire to get an incentive (reward)
Incentives = stimuli we are drawn to due to learning
Extrinsic or intrinsic motivations
Why do people try to do well at their jobs? Why do you all try to do well in school?
What is your incentive? What drives this behavior?

11. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Motivational Concepts (theories)
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow – Humanistic Perspective (human = self)
motivated by needs, and all needs are not created equal.
We are driven to satisfy the lower level needs first
Trying to reach self-actualization- fulfilling one’s potential
Education system <3s it
Humanistic Perspective:
Abraham Maslow- hierarchy of needs, self-actualization
Carl Rogers- person/client centered therapy, GAE –genuineness, acceptance, empathy
1960s- freewill, be the best you can be (self-actualization), humans are basically good, self, self-esteem

12. Motivational Concepts (theories)

13. Motivational Concepts (theories)

14. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Motivational Concepts (theories)
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Haters gon’ hate (Criticisms):
Cannot explain human capacity for evil
People in 3rd world countries, starving, yet they still love (belongingness & love needs) & still have esteem (respect for themselves & others)
Concept of self actualization is vague!

15. TOPSS Handout 1.2 - Classification of Needs:
Motivational Concepts (theories)
TOPSS Handout Classification of Needs:

16. Cognitive Dissonance Theory
We are motivated by our beliefs- we want to feel that our beliefs (what we think and feel) are consistent with our actions
If they don’t match- we work until they are!
Dissonance: not in harmony
If what we are thinking is NOT in harmony with what we are doing, saying, or how we are behaving- it causes emotional/mental discomfort (cognitive dissonance)- and we are MOTIVATED to change!