Week 9 - motivation Flashcards
(37 cards)
Define motivation
The driving force behind behaviour
What are the aspects that come with motivation
Determines aims and goals
Strength of motivation determines the likelihood of achieving goals
Influenced by internal and external factors
-experience
-beliefs
-physiological states
What’re the drives in the drive reduction theory (motivation)
Drive: state of arousal (caused by an unmet need) that drives behaviour
Primary drives: innate needs such as food, water, sex.
-we are more focussed on things moss needed for survival (thirst>food)
Secondary drives: learned through association with primary drives
Outline the drive reduction theory (motivation)
Unmet needs -> unpleasant internal state (drive)
Behaviours reduce unpleasant state -> drive reduction
Drive reduction is rewarding and repeated in future
We try to maintain homeostasis (balance)
What’re the limitations of the drive reduction theory in motivation?
External stimuli can activate drives (eg not hungry until smell food)
Can be motivated to behave in ways that do not reduce drives (eg seeking out new experiences, boredom, avoidance etc)
We often engage in behaviours when drives are satisfied
What is the arousal theory in relation to motivation?
We are motivated to maintain or restore an optimum level of arousal
Yerkes- Dodson Law:
Inverted U shape relationship between arousal and performance (moderate arousal equals high performance)
Stimulus hunger: can occur when under- aroused (fidgeting, fantasising, socialising etc)
Approach and avoidance theory in relation to motivation
Approach - predisposition towards certain stimuli (eg foods)
Avoidance - predisposition away from certain stimuli (eg menacing animals)
These can often be in conflict
Fundamental is you’ll either move towards something, or away
Incentive theories of motivation
We are motivated by positive goals (desired outcomes)
Intrinsic motivation: behaviour driven by internal reward (eg enjoyment gained from act itself)
Extrinsic motivation: behaviours driven by external reward/benefit
-inventive: a reward (or removal of unpleasant stimuli)
What is the expectancy value theory, as a sub category of incentive theories? (Motivation)
Expectancy value theory: motivation influenced by both value placed on goal and perceived ability to attain it
- Value: do I want this task? Is this worth it?
- Expectancy: can I do this? Am I capable?
Humanistic perspective on motivation
Humanists argue desire for personal growth motivates behaviour.
Maslow hierarchy of needs:
-lower level needs must be fulfilled before progressing to more complex needs.
Motivation and reward pathways
Reward pathways: system of dopamine producing neurons extending from midbrain to frontal and limbic areas, including nucleus accumbens.
Dopamine is released when a stimulus is rewarding - this acts as a learning signal to repeat behaviours.
Hunger and eating
Motivation to eat - complex interaction between physiological and psychological factors
We have a biological need to eat in order to obtain energy and nutrients
- metabolism: transformation of food into energy (glucose).
Hunger vs. satiety (not wanting to eat anymore)
What motivates us to eat? (Set point theory)
Set point theories of eating - individuals have a genetically programmed set point, or optimum level of body fat and metabolism that is maintained by homeostatic mechanisms
Limitations:
- conflicts with evolutionary theories
- does not explain obesity/eating disorders
- ignored the role of learning and psychosocial factors
What motivates us to eat? (Positive incentive perspective)
Positive incentive perspective: the primary reason for eating is the expected pleasure of eating
This expectation is due to physiological and evolutionary mechanisms, learnt responses and social influences.
Positive incentive value: anticipated pleasure of performing a particular behaviour.
Hunger and eating - physiological processes
Glucostatic theory: hunger/satiety is signalled when blood glucose drops/increases
Insulin: released when we eat (allows glucose to enter cells), provides satiety signals to hypothalamus
Hormones from stomach/intestines: signal hunger (ghrelin) or satiety (cholecystokinin) to hypothalamus
Nutrient/stretch receptors: in stomach/intestines send messages to hypothalamus to indicate fullness
Leptin: hormone sends signals about fat stores
Physiological processes of hunger and eating : brain mechanisms
Damage to lateral hypothalamus -> decreases hunger (no ‘on’ switch)
Damage to ventromedjal hypothalamus -> increases hunger (no ‘satiety’ switch)
What motivates us to eat (psychosocial factors)
Taste/palatability of food - innate preference for sweet foods, preference for variety.
Classical conditioning- conditioned to eat at certain times, response to stimuli
Presence of others - likely to eat more in the presence of others
Anxiety reduction - ‘comfort eating’
Weight gain and obesity
More than 17 million Australians are overweight/obese.
If weight gain continues at current levels, by 2020, 80% of all Australian adults and 1/3 of children will be overweight or obese
Theories of weight gain and obesity
Evolutionary pressures: the most likely to survive
- ate high calorie foods
- ate as much as possible when possible
- able to store and use fat effectively
Cultural pressures
- position distortion
- beliefs around eating
Physiological and genetic pressures in obesity and weight gain
Leptin deficiency: difficulty recognising when full and store fat more effectively
- melanocortin-4 receptor gene mutation - inability to feel full
- polygenic effects
- obesity may damage stretch receptors in stomach
Concordance rates for obesity
- monozygotic twins: .7-.9
- dizygotic: .35-.45
- monozygotic twins reared apart: .4-.7
Neuropsychological pressure associated in weight gain and obesity
Sensitivity to reward - reward pathways, increased motivation to derive pleasure from eating
Reward deficiency syndrome - hypoactivity in the reward pathways
Excessive eating occurs to increase reward responses
Eating disorders
Bulima nervosa:
- prevalence in Australia 1-3%
- cycle of binging/purging
Binge eating disorder:
-prevelance in Australia ~3%
Recurrent binging without purging
Anorexia nervosa:
- prevelance in Australia 0.5%
- mortality rate ~5-10%
Sexual motivation - biological determinants
Testosterone - higher levels associated with increased sex drive
Serotonin - higher levels associated with decreased sex drive
Oxytocin - higher during affectionate interaction
Genetics - DRD4 protein (dopamine transporter)
Sexual behaviour and physiology
Masters and Johnson lab research
4 phase sexual response cycle
Arousal cycle same for males and females
Basic biological drive, but sexual behaviours are strongly influenced by psychosocial factors
Excitement-> plateau -> orgasm -> resolution
