2. Motivation: Motivation is a need or desire that energizes behavior and directs it towards a goal.
Perspectives used to explain motivation include the following:
Instinct Theory (replaced by the evolutionary perspective)
Drive-Reduction Theory
Incentive Theory
Arousal Theory
Hierarchy of Needs

3. Instincts & Evolutionary Psychology
Patterns of behavior that are inherited and unlearned.
Instincts generally serve to help survival.
Examples:
Salmon swim upstream to reproduce – survival of species.
Rooting of human infants – survival of individual.
Instinct Theory: We are motivated by our inborn automated behaviors. But instincts only explain why we do a small fraction of our behaviors.
Preview Question 1: From what perspectives do psychologists view motivated behavior?

4. Drive Reduction Theory
When the instinct theory of motivation failed, it was replaced by the drive-reduction theory.
Drive-reduction theory says:
a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need.
Our goal is homeostasis, internal stability.

5. Drive Reduction Theory Key Concepts:
Need: A state of deprivation Drive: Tension or arousal within an organism…associated with a need Drives propel us to act Homeostasis: The body’s natural/automatic tendency to maintain it’s internal equilibrium (balance)
The Basics:
Our behavior is motivated by BIOLOGICAL NEEDS.
Goal = maintain homeostasis.
Imbalance creates a need that creates a drive.

6. Types of Needs Primary Needs: Physiological Needs
Required for our survival
Innate, unlearned
Ex/ food, oxygen, sleep
2. Secondary Needs:
Social Needs
Psychological
Learned
Acquired through experience
Ex/ achievement , approval, affiliation
Vary from person to person

7. Incentive Theory Our needs push our behavior
Incentives pull us toward behavior that reduces our drives.
Incentive: An object, person or situation perceived as being satisfying
External stimuli that represent goals

8. Arousal Theory We seek our optimum level of arousal:
High optimum levels = high risk behaviors
Low optimum levels = low risk activities
Sometimes we do not seek homeostasis. Sometimes we seek arousal. Our needs go beyond reducing drives. But how much arousal???

9. Yerkes-Dodson Law Suggests a correlation between arousal & performance Key= task difficulty
Difficult, complex tasks ~ lower levels of arousal increase performance
Easy, simple tasks ~ higher levels of arousal increase performance

10. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow said we are motivated by needs, and all needs are not created equal.
We are driven to satisfy the lower level needs first.