Motivation

Mike Howard (1998) breaking the Guinness Book of World Records

• What behavior’s are unacceptable in our culture?

• Under what conditions would you engage in them?

Motivation= a need or drive that energizes and directs behavior

toward a goal

Historical Explanations:Instincts & Drives

Module 26: Motivation

Instinct= as a theory, incomplete

• A complex, inherited, preprogrammed behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species.

• Instincts sometimes called Fixed Action Patterns

Drive Theory- Clark Hull

• We all have need that must be met.

• Needs prompt us to restore our balance, (homeostasis) typically reducing the drive

• Eating and drinking are examples of drive-reducing behaviors

• Also called: Drive-Reduction Theory

Homeostasis

• A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state.

• The regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level

• Any change in levels, up or down, results in being motivated to bring the level back to normal.

Hunger: A Closer Look:Physiology of Hunger

Module 26: Motivation

Insulin

• Hormone which allows the body to use glucose for energy or fat production

• As insulin levels increase, glucose levels decrease.

Glucose

• Form of sugar which circulates through the body

• One feels hunger when the levels become low.

Hypothalamus

• Regulates appetite

• Monitors leptin levels

HypothalamusLateral Hypothalamus=hunger message

Ventromedial Hypothalamus= stop message

Set Point

• The point at which an individual’s “weight thermostat” is supposedly set;

• when the body falls below this weight, an increased hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may act to restore the lost weight.

Hunger: A Closer Look:Eating Disorders

Module 26: Motivation

External Incentives

• Include the sight, sound, and smell of food- the availability of food

Cultural Influences on Eating

• Cultural views on obesity can vary

• Culture influences the foods we like and dislike.

• The American beauty “ideal”

Anorexia Nervosa• Anorexics put themselves on self-

starvation regimens

• May become dangerously underweight (15% of more below normal)

• DO NOT loose their appetite

• 5-8% (lifetime) die of malnutrition related problems

• Most common pre-post puberty but can occur following any life trauma

• Evidence of genetic trait

Bulimia Nervosa• An eating disorder characterized by

episodes of overeating –

• usually of high-calorie foods -

• followed by vomiting, use of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise.

• 5% of college women

• Hair loss-heart irregularities-tooth erosion-loss of sex drive-anxiety-depression

Biological Explanations:Arousal Theories

Module 26: Motivation

Arousal

• Levels of alertness and responsiveness

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Yerkes-Dodson Law

• The theory that a degree of psychological arousal helps performance, but only to a point.

• Optimum level of arousal depends on the difficulty of the task.

Sensation Seekers?

Opponent Process Theory Highest 16-20 Males more than

females. Cross cultural. Correlates with drug use. Related to mania. See situations as less

risky than they are.

Incentive Theory

• We are pulled toward behaviors by extrinsic rewards/incentives.

• Connection between incentive theory and behavioral concepts of positive & negative reinforcement and punishment.

Extrinsic Motivation

• A desire to perform a behavior because of promised rewards or threats of punishment.

Intrinsic Motivation

• A desire to perform a behavior for its own sake

• Self-determination theory= need for autonomy competence relatedness

Cognitive Explanations

Module 26: Motivation

Cognitive Consistency

Cognitive-dissonance theory says that we strive to keep our thoughts, attitudes and behavior in agreement to reduce anxiety

Cognitive-Evaluation Theory

Edward Deci A reward perceived as providing information about a person’s competence will increase intrinsic motivation

Motivation

Is

Influenced

By

Perception

Imagine

Hierarchy of Needs

Module 26: Motivation

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

• Humanistic psychologist who proposed the hierarchy of needs, with self-actualization as one of the ultimate psychological needs.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Henry Murray (1893-1988)

• Neo-Freudian who first established the concept of achievement motivation and developed important personality testing tools.

• TAT

Achievement Motivation

• A desire for significant accomplishment;

• for the mastery of things, people, or ideas; and

• for attaining a high standard.

McClelland’s Studies

• Studied achievement motivation using the (Murray) Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).

Who Are High Achievers?

• Persist during difficulties

• Delay gratification

• Select MODERATE challenges