Motivation and emotion

Question 1

Psychodynamic perspective on motivation

Answer 1

Freud stated humans motivated by two drives: sex and aggression. Contemporaries add self-esteem and relatedness. Motives are fears and wishes. There are conscious/ explicit and unconscious/ implicit motives.

Question 2

Behaviourist perspective on motivation

Answer 2

Motivation is activated by needs. Drive reduction theory states deprivation of needs creates unpleasant state of tension that leads to action. If action reduces tension, it is reinforced. Hunger, thirst and sex are primary; secondary drives are originally neutral but learnt through association with drive reduction.

Question 3

Evolutionary perspective on motivation

Answer 3

Earlier believed instincts with fixed patterns of behaviour were produced without learning. Contemporary theory adds inclusive fitness, natural selection favours organisms that foster the survival and reproduction of their kin, maximised through motives such as selecting and competing for mates, care for offspring and relations and survival. Drives are results of disruptions to homeostasis- state of internal equilibrium that body maintains. Homeostasis requires sensory mechanisms, response system and control centre.

Question 4

Humanistic perspective on motivation

Answer 4

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, basic needs must be met before higher levels become active. Physiological> safety> belongingness> esteem> self-actualisation. ERG theory in workplace is existence, relatedness and growth.

Question 5

Cognitive perspective on motivation

Answer 5

People work towards goals established through social learning. Expectancy value theory motivation is function of value of outcome and belief it can be attained. Goal setting theory conscious goals that regulate much of human action. Self-determination theory people have innate needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness. Intrinsic motivation flourishes when these needs are met, which is genuine interest in task for enjoyment. Implicit motives activated and expressed outside of conscious awareness.

Question 6

Incentive

Answer 6

Externally motivating stimulus, opposed to an internally needed state.

Question 7

Incentive theory

Answer 7

Behaviours are more motivated by external stimulus or reward.

Question 8

Psychosocial needs

Answer 8

Motives that lead people to strive for: mastery, power, self-esteem, affiliation and intimacy. Two clusters of needs across cultures are relatedness and agency.

Question 9

Needs for relatedness

Answer 9

Motives for attachement, intimacy, and affiliation. Needs are psychosocial but failure to fullfill can be biologically detrimental.

Question 10

Needs for achievment

Answer 10

Motives for power, competence, autonomy, self-esteem and to succeed or avoid failure. Influenced by cultural and economic conditions. Affects goals pursued, tasks attempted, extent of persistence.

Question 11

Achievement goals

Answer 11

Performance approach goals (desire to meet social standard) performance avoidance goals (desire to avoid failure, particularly if publicly observed) mastery goals (desire to master a skill).

Question 12

Behavioural activation system

Answer 12

Primed by signals of reward (Left prefrontal cortex, planning self regulation).

Question 13

Behavioural inhibition system

Answer 13

Respond to potential pain/ punishment (limbic system and right prefrontal lobe).

Question 14

Motivational conflict

Answer 14

Goals may conflict with each other BAS and BIS. Continually balance. Three basic types of conflict.

Question 15

Approach-approach conflict

Answer 15

Two attractive alterations, selecting one means losing the other.

Question 16

Approach-avoidance conflict

Answer 16

Attracted and repelled by same goal.

Question 17

Avoidance-avoidance conflict

Answer 17

Choosing between two undesirable alternatives.

Question 18

Maximum point of conflict

Answer 18

Approach and avoidance tendencies grow stronger as goals approaches. Avoidance tendencies grow faster. May be attracted to and slightly repelled at first, repelled more getting closer to goal. Causes stop, retreat and approach again behaviour.

Question 19

Arousal theory

Answer 19

Human motivation seeks an optimum level of arousal and not to eliminate it. This level differs between individuals. Easy/well-practiced tasks performed better at high arousal (knowledgeable before exam/ expert in front of crowd). Difficult/ unfamiliar tasks performed better at lower arousal (extra time to study new subject/ at home alone for new skill).

Question 20

Psychodynamic perspective on emotion

Answer 20

People can be unconscious of emotional experience and it can influence thought, behaviour and health.

Question 21

Behaviourist perspective on emotion

Answer 21

Approach and avoidance systems associated with positive and negative affect.

Question 22

Evolutionary perspective on emotion

Answer 22

Emotions serve adaptive purpose to communicate and motivate.

Question 23

Cognitive perspective on emotion

Answer 23

Emotion is an interpretation of physiological arousal. Cognitive appraisals influence emotion. Schachter-Singer theory: Emotion involves two factors, physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation of the arousal. Mood and emotion can affect thought and memory.

Question 24

Attributions

Answer 24

Influences about causes of thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

Question 25

Plutchik's theory

Answer 25

Eight basic emotions in pairs: joy and sadness, trust and disgust, fear and anger, surprise and anticipation. Other emotions derive from these emotions. Emotions are not just subjective experiences, also have behavioural and physiological aspects. Thoughts and interpretations of situations shape, trigger, and determine length and intensity of emotional experience.

Question 26

James-Lang theory

Answer 26

Conscious experience of emotions results from perception of autonomic arousal or emotion is awareness to physiological responses.

Question 27

Cannon-Bard theory

Answer 27

Body and thought are simultaneous. Physiological arousal can occur without emotion. Visceral changes are too slow to precede emotion.

Question 28

Four features of emotional states

Answer 28

Emotions are triggered by internal or external stimuli. Emotional responses result from our appraisals of these stimuli, our bodies respond physiologically to our appraisals, emotions include behaviour tendencies.

Question 29

Biological cause of emotions

Answer 29

Emotions are controlled throughout the nervous system. The hypothalamus activates sympathetic and endocrine responses. The limbic system, particularly the amygdala, evaluates the emotional significance of a stimulus. Also detects other people's emotions.

Question 30

Emotional reaction

Answer 30

Two pathways. Quick response on a circuit running from thalamus to amygdala and slower response with cognitive appraisal from thalamus to cortex to amygdala. Both circuits has amygdala passing information to hypothalamus to regulate autonomic responses. Cortex interpets events and translates emotional reactions into socially desirable behaviours.