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Psychology in Action (9e)

Chapter 12: Motivation & Emotion

Theories & Concepts of Motivation: Important Definitions

Motivation: set of factors that activate, direct, & maintain behavior, usually toward some goal

Emotion: subjective feeling including arousal, cognitions, & expressions

Six Major Theories of Motivation

Major Theories of Motivation—Biological Theories

Instinct: inborn, unlearned behaviors universal to species explain motivation

Drive-Reduction: internal tensions “push” toward satisfying basic needs

Arousal: motivated toward optimal level of arousal

Instinct Theory

Drive-Reduction Theory

Arousal Theory • People seek an optimal level of arousal that maximizes their performance.

Major Theories of Motivation—Psychosocial Theories

Incentive: motivation results from the “pull” of external environmental stimuli

Cognitive: motivation affected by attributions & expectations

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: interaction of biological, psychological, & social needs; lower motives (physiological & safety) must be met before higher needs (belonging, self-esteem)

Biopsychosocial Theories

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Motivation & Behavior: Hunger & EatingBiological

factors: stomach, biochemistry, the brain

Note the size difference in these rats. The rat on the left had the ventromedial area of its hypothalamus destroyed.

Motivation & Behavior: Hunger & Eating

Psychological factors: visual cues, cultural conditioning

Obesity is more common in Pima Indians living in U.S., but not for those in nearby Mexico with traditional diet.

• Obesity appears to result from numerous biological & psychosocial factors.

• Anorexia nervosa & bulimia nervosa are both characterized by an overwhelming fear of becoming obese & explained by multiple biological & psychosocial factors.

Hunger & Eating--Eating Disorders

Critical Thinking About Motivation & Emotion

Intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation--

extrinsic rewards may lower interest & motivation.

Motivation & Behavior—Achievement

• Characteristics of a high need for achievement (nAch):

– Prefers moderately difficult tasks

– Prefers clear goals with competent feedback

– Competitive– Prefers responsibility – Persistent– More accomplished

Theories & Concepts of Emotion Three Components

of Emotions1. Physiological--

arousal comes from brain (particularly the limbic system) & autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Mirror Neurons: brain cells that fire both when performing specific actions and when observing specific actions or emotions of another; this “mirroring” may explain empathy, imitation, language, etc.

Theories & Concepts of Emotion

Physiological Component & the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Three Components of Emotion (Cont’d)

2. Cognitive--thoughts, values, & expectations

3. Behavioral--expressions, gestures, & body positions

Theories & Concepts of Emotion

Can you identify the social smile vs. the genuine smile?

Real smiles involve muscles around both the eyes & cheeks.

James-Lange: subjective experience of emotion follows bodily arousal

Cannon-Bard: arousal & emotion occur simultaneously

Facial-Feedback: facial movements elicit arousal & specific emotions

Schachter’s Two-Factor: arousal & label (or interpretation) produce emotion

Theories & Concepts of Emotion-- Four Theories of Emotion

Critical Thinking About Motivation & Emotion: The Polygraph

Polygraph: measures changes in sympathetic arousal, which in turn supposedly reflects lying versus truthfulness

Critical Thinking about Motivation & Emotion: The Polygraph

The subject’s response on the GSR does rise in response to the second question. But remember that error rates on the polygraph range from 25% to 75%.

Critical Thinking About Motivation & Emotion: Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Emotional Intelligence (EI): ability to know & manage one’s emotions, empathize, & maintain satisfying relationships

Cultural similarities & differences: 7 to10 culturally universal emotions, but each culture has its own display rules governing how, when, & where to express emotions

Role of evolution: strong biological, evolutionary basis for emotional expression & decoding

Culture, Evolution, & Emotion

Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions