Motivational Theories

Question 1

Define Motives

Answer 1

Desires, needs, wants that propel our behaviour

Question 2

What are some goals (in terms of knowledge gained) for psychologists in this field?

Answer 2

What determines goals. What produces behaviour. What causes procrastinating. What got you out of bed in the morning

Question 3

What are the four essential components of motivation? Elaborate

Answer 3

1. Energizing: causes you to expend energy
2. Directive: directs you in a certain line to satisfying specific goals
3. Persistence: until goal is satisfied
4. Strength: must be power behind it.

Question 4

Give an example of something that uses the 4 components of motivation

Answer 4

Hunger:

1. need to get up and make food
2. Directs you to satisfying internal pressure of hunger
3. Persistence: won’t ignore until satisfied
   4: Need the endurance to make it through cooking i guess

Question 5

Define motivational states. How does complexity factor in?

Answer 5

The force that drives us to pursue some goals/prioritize ones and avoid others (like pain). Complex goals need complex states

Question 6

Give some examples of complex vs basic goals:

Answer 6

C: careers: (want money, fame, sex, security)
B: Food: satisfy hunger

Question 7

Explain drive theory

Answer 7

Internal states of (physical or psyc) tension that DRIVE us toward a certain goal. Need to alleviate them. Internal/push outward

Question 8

What is homeostasis and how does it relate to drive theory?

Answer 8

A natural balance that is disturbed by drives. Need to restore it (say, by eating)

Question 9

In regards to drive theory, what two questions must be asked? What is an example of a motive not covered here?

Answer 9

1. What is the motivational type?
2. How strong is the motive?
   A: thirst for knowledge

Question 10

Explain incentive theory. Define incentive

Answer 10

Motivation comes from external stimuli pulling you

I: external goal with capacity to modify behaviour

Question 11

How do Drive and Incentive theories contrast?

Answer 11

Drive: push from within, homeostasis
Incentive: Pull from without, no homeostasis

Question 12

What’s one flaw with incentive theory?

Answer 12

Some behaviours do not respond to incentives

Question 13

What are expectancy value models in regards to incentive theory?

Answer 13

Motivation depends on two factors:
1. Expectancy of one’s chance of achieving the goal
2. the Value of that goal to us
Ex: Will I actually get good grades? + What is that worth to me?

Question 14

Explain the evolutionary theory:

Answer 14

Motivation (can you guess?) product of evolution. behaviours that maximize reproductive fitness will be passed on (how likely are you to fuck)

Question 15

What motives are explained by evolutionary theory?

Answer 15

Powerful ones (and common); Affiliation, sex drive, dominance, aggression, achievement

Question 16

Explain how dominance is an evolutionary product in men today

Answer 16

1. females may want a dominant male
2. steal yo girl
3. Intimidation of rivals
4. More material resources (successful career) attracts partners/ensures healthy offspring

Question 17

What is the affiliation motivation for evolution?

Answer 17

Stronger links together. Hunting in packs, raising kids. Therefore sucks when these bonds break

Question 18

Explain the paradox of self-determination theory

Answer 18

Some behaviours will be decreased after being rewarded. When a behaviour is elicited from the inside as an INTERNAL need, rewarding it will decrease it in long run

Question 19

What are the three needs we satisfy with elicited (internal) behaviours?

Answer 19

1. Autonomy: feelings of self control
2. Competence: control of environment
3. Relatedness: interpersonal growth tendency to connect with other people

Question 20

What are the two types of motivation?

Answer 20

1. Intrinsic/internal: inside oneself, hobbies, interests, pleasure
2. Extrinsic/external: Getting rewards, avoiding punishment

Question 21

What is the unifying factor between internal/external motivations?

Answer 21

The same behaviour at the same level of intensity can be caused by both. Like volunteering

Question 22

Define flow

Answer 22

INTRINSIC motivation that completely envelops you in an activity. Time stops

Question 23

What is the main difficulty of measuring motives?

Answer 23

People don’t know why they engage in certain behaviours/can express clearly why

Question 24

Explain the initial candle problem. What was the result?

Answer 24

Box w/tacks, candle, matches. Experimental and control groups told to fasten it to wall without dripping onto table.
E: were given money upon doing it faster then a certain time
C: told to take time and “be creative”
Control group was actually faster by quite a bit.

Question 25

What effect explains the initial candle problem?

Answer 25

Over justification effect: an unexpected external incentive lowers the intrinsic motivation to complete a task “I’m doing this because of money not self-enjoyment“

Question 26

Explain the self perception theory

Answer 26

When people are given external rewards for a task, they will spend less time enjoying it and thus focusing on the actual task itself (instead of reward)

Question 27

What was different about the SECOND candle experiment? What is the conclusion?

Answer 27

Thumbtacks were OUTSIDE box. E group was faster because less critical thinking involved (more obvious). Conc: creative tasks are better approached through Internal motivation, and simpler ones through external

Question 28

What function are intrinsic/internal motives better at? Example? (please)

Answer 28

MAINTAINING behaviour over external. Telling someones to clean dishes when they were about to. Now they won't want to do it as much (need for autonomy/competence damaged)

Question 29

How does intrinsic/extrinsic motives influence athletes as they grow older?

Answer 29

As kids, really good at sport because they enjoy it. As money is offered, pressure mounts and you head isn't "in the game as much" and becomes less enjoyable

Question 30

What do external stimuli prevent people from doing?

Answer 30

Finding their internal growth tendencies / passions again

Question 31

What's up with social motives/what is the caveat with characterizing them as such?

Answer 31

Technically bio motives, so no hard line here. Merely a convenience

Question 32

What does everyone in the field agree upon?

Answer 32

Humans display a WIDE variety of motives