Module 3: Motivation and Emotion

Question 1

What is motivation?

Answer 1

internal processes that activate and guide behavior

Question 2

What is the instinct theory?

Answer 2

innate patterns of behavior that are universal

Question 3

What are the concepts of mate selection?

Answer 3

males (more interested in reproducing) choose attractiveness and younger, females (more interested in nurturing children) choose dependability, earning and ambition

Question 4

What is the drive theory?

Answer 4

unpleasant sensations lead to drive to return to homeostasis

Question 5

What are the characteristics of sensation seekers?

Answer 5

thrills, experiences, disinhibition, boredom susceptibility (dopamine release)

Question 6

What is the expectancy theory?

Answer 6

goal directed behavior determined by strength of expectation and incentive value of goal (motivation = expectancy x value)

Question 7

What are the five levels of Maslow’s needs hierarchy? (bottom to top)

Answer 7

physiological (eg. shelter, food, water)
safety (body, resources)
love/belonging
esteem (confidence, achievement)
self-actualization

must have lower levels before proceeding

Question 8

What are the 3 fundamental psychological needs as per the self-determination theory?

Answer 8

competence
autonomy
relatedness

Question 9

What are the concepts of rewarding behavior? What rewards are best? What type of reward shouldn’t we be given for something we enjoy/learning?

Answer 9

Extrinsic reward can stifle intrinsic motivation in learning
If rewarded for what we enjoy (less autonomy), intrinsic motivation may be declined
If reward indicates recognition of mastery (competence), intrinsic motivation may increase
Verbal extrinsic rewards (if sincere, recognizing competence, encouraging autonomy) less likely to interfere with motivation than tangible reward

Question 10

What are the four types of motivation regulation?

Answer 10

• External regulation: external control of rewards (extrinsic)
• Introjected regulation: internalization of the reason for doing so (extrinsic)
• Identified regulation: not inherently enjoyed but still done out of choice (extrinsic)
• Internal regulation: done for own’s sake

Question 11

What are the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cortex known for?

Answer 11

Thalamus: “motherboard”
Hypothalamus: hormones
Limbic system: amygdala, hippocampus (emotion, fear and memory)
Cortex: left (positive emotions) and right (negative emotions) specialisation

Question 12

What is the James-Lange theory?

Answer 12

Physiological changes come before emotions, different emotions = different bodily reactions
AGAINST THEORY: speed of autonomic + emotional response, emotion still felt after spinal cord injury

Question 13

What is the cannon-bard theory?

Answer 13

Emotions present before arousal occurs, generalized arousal = different emotions, events simultaneously elicit subjective experiences and physiological responses, all processed by brain

Question 14

What is the Duchenne smile?

Answer 14

with eyes and mouth

Question 15

What does botox do in relation to someone being shown dramatic and happy clips?

Answer 15

reduces facial mobility, less brain scan activity, no strong reaction to dramatic clips, weaker reactions to happy clips

Question 16

What is LeDoux’s integration?

Answer 16

emotion is quick response (thalamus to amygdala), emotion is slower circuit (thalamus to cortex to amygdala), depends on cognitive interpretation (eg. Guilt)

Question 17

What is Schachter-Singers 2 factors of emotion theory? What happened during the experiment associated with it?

Answer 17

2 factors of emotion: arousal (dependent on situation and environment) and attribution
Experiment (adrenaline/no adrenaline, angry or euphoric confederate): confederate influenced “misinformed” participants behaviour, adrenaline = anxiety, arousal may intensify emotional states, “misinformed euphoric” condition were happiest

Question 18

What are the characteristics of shame?

Answer 18

withdrawal, internal, stable attributions about self, more anger, less empathy, more depression

Question 19

What are the characteristics of guilt?

Answer 19

reparation, internal, unstable attributions about self, greater empathy, less depression

Question 20

What are the six basic emotions?

Answer 20

anger, fear, sadness, disgust, happiness, surprise

Question 21

What is alexithymia?

Answer 21

decreased vocab of emotion, can’t describe/distinguish

Question 22

What is insula?

Answer 22

middle part of brain, self-awareness, higher alexithymia = lower insula activity