Human Motivation Flashcards
(64 cards)
Motives
An internal force that leads an individual to behave in a particular way.
Instinct
A genetically endowed tendency to behave in a particular way. A complex behaviour that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned.
Homeostasis
The body’s tendency to maintain internal equilibrium through various forms of self-regulation (tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state).
Drive
A state of internal bodily tension such as hunger or thirst or the need for sleep. An aroused state of tension that typically arises from a need (drives our behaviour).
Pain Matrix
A distributed network of brain regions, including the amygdala, that respond to many types of pain.
Intrinsically Rewarding/Intrinsic Motivation
Being pursued for its own sake. Performance of an activity for the satisfactions of the activity itself.
Extrinsically Rewarding/Extrinsic Motivation
Being pursued because of rewards that are not an inherent part of the activity or object. Performance of an activity to obtain some external outcome (incentive). Not as good as or beneficial as intrinsic motivation.
Glucostatic Hypothesis/Theory
The hypothesis that hunger and eating are regulated by the body’s monitoring and adjustment of blood glucose levels. When glucose levels drop, glucoreceptors signal the lateral hypothalamus to encourage eating (on switch). When glucose levels are too high, glucoreceptors signal the ventromedial hypothalamus to stop eating (off switch). There are also peripheral detectors such as stomach distensions and body temperature but if the ventromedial hypothalamus is damaged, one will not feel full.
Lipostatic Hypothesis
The hypothesis that adipose tissue plays an important role in governing hunger and regulating longer-term energy balance.
Body Weight Set Point
The weight an organism will seek to maintain despite alterations in dietary intake.
Metabolic Rate
The rate at which the body uses energy.
Unit Bias
The amount of food that is regarded as a single serving.
Anorexia Nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by an extreme concern with being overweight and by compulsive dieting sometimes to the point of self-starvation. Are often severely underweight.
Bulimia Nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by repeated binge-and-purge bouts. Are often normal weight.
Binge Eating
Eating a larger amount of food than is typical within a relatively brief time period.
Compensatory Behaviour
Subsequent actions to try to ensure that the binge eating does not translate into weight gain ex. self-induced vomiting, the misuse of laxatives or diuretics, and extreme levels of exercise.
Binge-Eating Disorder
An eating disorder characterized by repeated episodes of binge eating without inappropriate compensatory behaviour.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
A measure of whether someone is at a healthy weight or not. Is calculated as one’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of one’s height in meters.
Thrifty Gene Hypothesis
The evolutionary hypothesis that natural selection has favoured individuals with efficient metabolisms that maximize fat storage.
Estrus
A female mammal’s period of sexual receptivity.
Neurodevelopmental Perspective
This perspective holds that sexual orientation is built into the circuitry of the brain early in fetal development.
Performance Orientation
A motivational stance that focuses on performing well and looking smart.
Fixed Mindset
Believes that intelligence is fixed.
Mastery Orientation
A motivational stance that focuses on learning and improving.
