test 3 - What drives us? (motivation) Flashcards
(35 cards)
Motivation
- Derived from the Latin word “to move”
- The study of things that put us in motion, pushing us towards some things and away from others.
what are the 2 components of motivation?
- drive or arousal
- goal-directed behaviour
Theories of motivation
- Freud
- Instinct theory
- Halls drive-reduction theory (replaced instinct theory)
- Optimal level of arousal theory
Freuds theories of motivation
life and death instincts motivate and direct behaviour
Instinct theory of motivation
- organisms behave in a certain way cause of an inborn existence (built into the species)
- an innate tendency to behave in a fixed way to certain stimuli
- fails to explain most human motives but, as evolutionary psychology proposes, genes can predispose some behaviors
Halls drive-reduction theory (replaced instinct theory)
- physiological needs/deficiencies create internal tension (ie, drive or arousal) and we are motivated to reduce that drive by satisfying that need
- In other words, we are motivated to maintain homeostasis – a balanced internal state.
- eg our temperature regulation system*
habits strength
how well practiced a particular response is
Optimal level of arousal theory
- drive-reduction theory argues that we always want to reduce drive or arousal; this theory argues that we seek an optimal (“just right”) level of arousal.
- eg – when we’re at a low level of arousal (bored), we’re motivated to increase it to an optimal level; when we’re at a high level of arousal (stress/anxiety), we’re motivated to reduce it to an optimal level
Incentives
are positive or negative external stimuli that motivate behaviour. Their incentive value is learned.
Drive theories
explain how internal states “push” us & emphasize homeostasis
Incentive theories
explain how external S “pull” or “repel” us & emphasize environmental factors
- eg – drive theory can explain why you seek food when you’re hungry, but incentive theory can explain why you choose pizza over liver
- eg – you eat when you’re not hungry because, through learning, you anticipate that the food will be delicious; you go to university because you anticipate it will lead to a better job
As arousal increases to the optimal level, so does performance but further arousal leads to a decrease in performance.
As arousal increases to the optimal level, so does performance but further arousal leads to a decrease in performance.
2 types of motives:
- deficiency motives
- growth motives
deficiency motives
motivated to remove a deficiency or discomfort
growth motives
even when there isn’t a deficiency we are motivated to develop beyond our present condition
Maslow hierarchy of needs
- bottom to top
- physiological needs
- safety needs
- belongingness and love needs
- esteem needs
- self-aculization
- self-transcending
what did Maslow believe
Maslow believed that we’re motivated to fulfill needs that are inborn & that are prioritized according to this hierarchy
what needs need to be fulfilled first in the hierarchy
Needs at the bottom of the hierarchy are the strongest & must be fulfilled before we’re motivated to fulfill those higher up in the hierarchy
in Zuckerman’s sensation-seeking theory do extroverts have a low or high level of natural arousal
- extroverts have a low level of natural arousal
- introverts have a high level of natural arousal
Zuckerman Believed the natural arousal level is due to (influenced by Eysenck)
a genetic predisposition
Zuckerman devised the Sensation-Seeking Scale to ….
measure this tendency
Zuckerman argued
that people with naturally low levels of arousal are motivated to “seek sensations” to elevate their arousal to a more optimal level (opposite is true for people with naturally high levels of arousal)
Characteristics of high sensation-seekers:
- thrill and adventure seeking (choose activities that involve physical risk)
- experience seeking (want varied experiences such as travelling, wild parties etc)
- uninhibited and prone to heavy drinking, drug use, gambling
- susceptibility to boredom (low tolerance for routine but more tolerance for stress)
Conflict
- 2 incompatible exist simultaneously but both cannot be satisfied
- i.e., 2 incompatible responses exist simultaneously but both cannot be satisfied
