What is Motivation?

 A general term describing need & instinct

regulated behavior with respect to goals.
A presumed internal state causing a “move-toward.”
It is a preferential process that affects change in your equilibrium both
physiological and psychological.
Motivation determines that you will engage in certain responses and
ignore others that are possible.

Motivated behavior is any behavior that is

energized in an organized fashion to satisfy
a need or gain a goal.
A motive is anything that will move you to
action.
An incentive is a physical object that can be
used to motivate you.
 What is an
Instinct?
An inherited
behavior pattern
in response to an
environmental
stimulus.
It is a genetically
programmed behavior
pattern designed for survival
in a particular environment.
 Theories of
Motivation
Drive Reduction Optimum Level of
Theory Arousal
Homeostatic Drives for Drives seek the Highest
Physiological Harmony Physiological Arousal
Specific Drives to Satisfy Yerkes-Dodson Law
Needs
NEED » DRIVE »
BEHAVIOR »
SATISFACTION »
Expectancy
HOMEOSTASIS Theory
Primary & Secondary Refers to Goals & their
Drives Expected Consequences
 Primary Drives -
Hunger
The Hypothalamus
Monitors Glucose

Hunger Detectors
“Hunger center,” “Satiation
center,” “Swallow counter,”
“Stretch-nerves”

Problems with Eating

Cultural differences
Obesity
Anorexia & Bulimia

Weight Loss
Set-point theory & Metabolism
 More Primary Drives
Thirst
The hypothalamus
Sleep
The hypothalamus
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
Psychological motivators
Stimulus Change
The need for novelty
Natural curiosity
Need an optimum level of
stimulation
 The Sexual Drive
Lower animals driven by
hormones
Pheromones
Human responding
Physiological (testosterone &
amygdala) & psychological factors
involved
Gender differences in
arousal
Men aroused by images; women
aroused by touch
Psychological factors important
Differences in male/female
responding
Sexual orientation
Differences in male & female
brains
 Other Important
Motives
Stimulus Motives
1. Exploration & Curiosity
Mammalian trait
Need for novel
experiences
2. Manipulation
Need to experience
things for yourself
3. Contact
Harlow’s experiments
Need to have physical
contact & to be with others of
the same species
(affiliation)
 Aggression
Intentionally inflicting physical
or psychological harm on
others.
Instinctive or learned?
Social Learning Theory of
Bandura
Cultural differences
Collectivist vs. Individualist
cultures
Approval by cultures
Gender differences
Males higher due to
testosterone?
 Psychological Motivators
Achievement
Mastery of objects, people, &
ideas
Increases self-esteem
High achievers vs. low achievers
High achievers are not
gamblers
Low achievers take big risks
Personality factors involved

Power
Need to win recognition or to
influence & control others
Builds self-esteem
Respect vs. envy
 Areas of
Achievement
Intrinsic
motivation
Achievement
Motivation based on internal
Productivity
rewards (i.e. the basic pleasure of
Knowledge the activity itself, the intellectual
Justice challenge, or the satisfaction of
curiosity).
Autonomy

Power Extrinsic
Duty motivation
Excellence Motivation based on external
Money
incentives (i.e. pay, praise,
attention, or the avoidance of
punishment).
Classical Theories of Motivation
Psychoanalytic
Theory
Initially, the source of
motivation is libido or sexual
energy. Later, thanatos and
anxiety were motivators.
Analytic Theory
Motivation is through moral
& “religious” values.
Understanding the
personality is the key to how
one is motivated.
Homeostatic
Drive Theory
Need > Drive > Response >
Goal > Reduced Need
Humanistic Theory
Motivation involves more than
one’s physical state.
We are capable of evaluating
possibilities & incentives &
choosing among them.
We have some degree of “free
will.”
We are motivated to actualize
our potential (self-
actualization) and become a
fully-functioning individual.
Self-actualization is using your
talents, capacities, &
potentials to their fullest.
 Emotions
A state of
affectively toned
arousal.
Basic emotions:
Fear
Anger
Sadness
Joy
Disgust
Surprise
These are seen in many
mammals.
The Dimensions of an Emotional State

2. Level of Tension
1. Intensity of Feeling Emotions give
Emotions vary in intensity Rise to differing
Amounts of activity

4. Complexity 3. Affective Tone

Experience is a The degree of
Mixture of Pleasantness &
Thoughts & Feelings Unpleasantness
 Classifying Emotions
Simplest
classification
Pleasant or unpleasant

Location in the
brain
Limbic system
Hypothalamus,
pituitary, & amygdala

Biochemistry
β - endorphins &
neuropeptides
Theories of Emotional Responding

James-Lange
Theory
Stimulus > Physical
Changes > Emotional
Response
Canon-Bard Theory
Stimulus > Simultaneous
Physical Changes &
Emotional Response
Cognitive Theory
Stimulus > Physical
Changes > Interpretation >
Emotional Response
 Experiencing
Emotions
Subjective
Experiences
Composed of:

1. “Feelings” 2. Thoughts

3. Socio-Cultural
4. Behaviors
Factors
 Communicating
Emotions
Verbal
Communications
About 20% of
communications
Unable to describe an
emotional state
Non-verbal
Communications
Conveys more about
emotions
“Body language” & gestures
Many facial expressions are
universal
 Other Forms of Non-verbal
Communication

Emblems
(Symbols) The Dragon

Differ in their meaning

from culture to
culture.
The Serpent
Gender Differences in Emotional Expression

Differences in
the same
situation
Men tend to show less emotion;
women show more concern
Men inhibit their emotions;
women express them
Betrayal produces anger in
men; hurt & sadness in women
Men & women interpret non-
verbal emotional cues
differently.
 Dealing with Emotions
The ABCs of
Emotional Change
A = Activating Event
B = Irrational Beliefs
C = Emotional/Behavioral
Consequences
D = Disputing
E = New Emotional
Reaction
Recognize a Rational Belief and an
Irrational Belief.
Irrational Beliefs are demands on
one’s self, others or the world.
A Rational Statement is necessary to
install the New Emotional Reaction.
1. I must be loved and approved by almost every
significant other person in my life.
2. I should be completely competent and achieving
in all ways to be a worthwhile person.
3. Certain people I must deal with are thoroughly
bad and should be severely blamed and
punished for it.
4. It is awful and upsetting when things are not the
way I would very much like them to be.
5. My happiness is always caused by external
events; I cannot control my emotional
reactions.
6. If something unpleasant might happen, I should
keep dwelling on it.
7. It is easier to avoid difficulties and
responsibilities than to face them.
8. I should depend on others who are stronger
than I am.
9. Because something once strongly affected my
life, it will do so indefinitely.
10. There is always a perfect solution to human
problems, and it is awful if this solution is
not found.