Motivation to EatAP Psychology

What Motivates us to Eat?Complete the survey The measure is based on a four-category model of

motivations for alcohol useThe model specifies the following four specific

motivations for eating that extend beyond the need for nourishment

To cope with negative affectTo be socialTo comply with others’ expectationsTo enhance pleasure

What Motivates us to Eat?Most important—

this scale recognizes that psychological motivations can play an important role in the initiation of both healthy and disordered eating

ScoringCoping

Add the numbers placed before the following items: 5 7 9 10 11

Social MotivationAdd the numbers placed

before the following items: 4 12 13 14 18

ScoringCompliance

Add the numbers placed before the following items: 15 16 17 19 20

PleasureAdd the numbers placed

before the following items: 1 2 3 6 8

Take a moment to identify your mean score for each category

Mean ScoresFemale UndergraduatesThe mean scores

were:1.78 for Coping2.74 for Social1.60 for Compliance2.33 for Pleasure

Male Undergraduates

The Mean scores were:1.78 for Coping2.66 for Social1.54 for Compliance2.28 for Pleasure

What commonalities do we see?What might explain the similarities and differences

What’s the Significance?Mean scores are for a group of generally

healthy peopleMay suggest:

These psychological motivations are not the dominant reasons healthy undergraduates eat

The Authors suggest:Disturbed eating results from chronically acting on

coping, compliance, and pleasure motivationsEven those who diet may see their eating as

motivated by depression, feelings of personal inadequacy, and as a way to comfort themselves.

What Motivates us to Eat?Would you do anything to survive? Would you

eat anything to live?1972 plane crash in the Andes MountainsSurvivors were stranded for 72 days, existing on

wine, chocolates, and finally the flesh of their dead comrades

The Decision to EatFactors Affecting their

Choice:Difficult decision“Life is more important”Developed rules for eatingChanged definitions of

“taboo”Encouraged others to eat

their flesh, if they too should die

DiscussHow strong is the hunger drive?

What do you think you would do in this situation?

The Psychology of HungerWhat affects hunger?Hunger does NOT

come from our stomach.

It comes from our…Brain

What part of the brain?The Hypothalamus

HypothalamusLateral Hypothalamus

Initiates HungerOrexin- a hormone that

when released by the lateral hypothalamus makes you feel hungry

When lesioned (destroyed) you will never be hungry again.

Ventromedial HypothalamusStops HungerWhen lesioned you

will never feel full again.

Hypothalamus Mnemonic:

I’m late for lunch. I’m hungry. The lateral

hypothalamus makes you hungry.

What affects hunger?Glucose- sugar that

circulates throughout the body that is used for energy-

Run low on glucose you feel hungry as orexin is now being released as a response“Satisfy your hunger and eat

a Snickers” What is the key ingredient in any candy bar? Sugar. Run low on glucose you become hungry

What affects Hunger?Insulin- hormone that converts glucose to energy-

high levels of insulin result in low levels of glucose- you feel hungryThink of a teeter-totter- when insulin goes up/ glucose

goes down- producing hunger

Glucose—produces Hunger

Insulin

What affects Hunger?CCK- produced by hormones in the gut that

provide short-term signals of satiation, or being full

CCK is released while you are eating in response to the lining of the stomach stretching-The more it stretches- the more CCK is released When you say; “I am stuffed,” that is because CCK

was released, signifying to the brain to stop eating

Review1. The most critical physiological factor controlling hunger is the

A. level of blood sugar

B. stomach contractions

C. taste of food

D. presence of fatigue

Review2. The maintenance of steady states of temperature and blood pressure are examples of

A. thermostasis

B. homeostasis

C. intrinsic motivation

D. biological rhythm

Review3. Electrically stimulating the lateral hypothalamus will cause a rat to

A. start eating

B. stop eating

C. start drinking

D. stop drinking

Review4. If the lateral hypothalamus is destroyed, a rat will

A. drink more water than biologically needed

B. refuse to drink until forced to do so.

C. eat until it becomes obese

D. refuse to eat until force fed.

Review5. The employees at a factory were excellent workers until a week before Christmas when a rumor spread that economic conditions would force the plant to close in four days. The quality and quantity of work took a down turn as the workers spent time discussing among themselves the plausibility of the rumor and what they would do if it were true. Maslow would say that these workers were motivated by

A. meta-needs

B. intrinsic motivation

C. esteem and self-esteem

D. safety and security

Set-Point TheorySet point theory is maintaining of the body’s ideal

weight This is maintained, or regulated through homeostasis,

which affects the basal metabolic rate- (BMR) the rate at which your body conserves and burns off calories.

The hypothalamus acts like a thermostat.Wants to maintain a stable weight.Activate the lateral when you diet and activate the

ventromedial when you start to gain weight.Ghrelin

Set-Point TheoryFactors that affect

the BMR:Women have a

slower BMR.Not eating lowers

your BMR.Exercising speeds

up the BMR.Overweight people

have a higher BMR.

Set-Point Theory--LeptinLeptin is a cell-signaling hormone vital in the

regulation of appetite, food intake and body weight.When fat mass decreases, the level of plasma leptin falls

so that appetite is stimulated until the fat mass is recovered.

By contrast, when fat mass increases, so do leptin levels and appetite is suppressed until weight loss occurs.

In this way leptin regulates energy intake and fat stores so that weight is maintained within a relatively narrow range.Resistance to leptin, or a lack of it have been associated

with obesity

ObesityObesity- is indicated by over 30 on the BMI- the

Body Mass IndexSeverely overweight to the point where it causes

health issues.Mostly eating habits but some people are

predisposed towards obesity.

Eating DisordersAnorexia Nervosa

Characterized by an obsession with body weight and a preoccupation to burn calories through excessive exercising and not eating

Bulimia NervosaCharacterized by

binging (consuming large amounts of calories) and purging- methods that involve ridding the body of food

Eating DisordersEating disorders

often involve perceptual distortions- even though a person is underweight they still see themselves as being overweight, which is why professional help is often required

With a small group…Read the article: “Why Men are Better Dieters

Than Women”Respond:

What makes men better dieters?Which motivational theory best matches up to this?Do you agree with their hypothesis?Are there any social or cultural aspects they may

have ignored?