Unit 8A & 8B: Motivation, Emotions, Stress and Health

Motivation: a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior.

4 Theories of Motivation

1. Instinct Theory (Evolutionary Psychology) Instinct: fixed action patterns that are not learned and occur in most members of a species. –in animals??? –in humans???

2. Drive Reduction Theory –Homeostasis: balanced internal state; regulation of any aspect of body chemistry (blood glucose) around a particular level Need –Drive: State of tension Drive reduction (Biological basis but not human basis)

3. Arousal Theory Humans and other animals are innately curious Yerkes-Dodson law: Optimum level of arousal helps performances.

4. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Hunger Motivation

1. The Biology of Hunger Contractions of the stomach –Washburn study

Body Chemistry and the Brain Glucose: form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides major source of energy for body tissues. Low = hunger –Insulin Hypothalamus –Lateral hypothalamus –Vetromedial hypothalamus

Body Chemistry and the Brain Set point : point at which “weight thermostat” is set. When body falls below, an increase in hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may act to restore the lost weight. Basal metabolic rate: the body’s resting rate of energy expenditure.

2. The Psychology of Hunger Taste preferences –Genetic: sweet and salty –Neophobia: dislike of unfamiliar –Adaptive taste preferences

Eating Disorders

Level of Analysis for Our Hunger Motivation

1. Obesity and Weight Control Worldwide: 1 billion are overweight and 300 million are clinically obese BMI of 30+ Easily obtainable high-fat Sedentary lifestyle Lack of adequate sleep Genetics

(Lbs x.45)/(inches/39.4)2 = BMI

The Social Effects of Obesity How you feel and how you’re treated Weight discrimination: Jobs

Weight Discrimination

The Physiology of Obesity Fat Cells: size and number –Adult billion, empty to overly full –Multiply to never decrease…

Losing Weight Realistic and moderate goals Attitudinal changes

Anorexia Nervosa Self-imposed starvation & obsessive fear of obesity Appears first in puberty Mostly women 15% below normal body weight Combine starvation and exercise Menstruation stops

Bulimia Nervosa Eating binges and then vomit, excessive exercise, laxatives Suffer low potassium levels, dental decay, heart problems Concerned with how society judges them *Bing-Eating Disorder

Social Motivation

Achievement Motivation David McClelland (nAch) High need to achieve, seek out tasks that are moderately difficult. Learned early (parents) Individualistic = personal Collectivistic = Family/group

Achievement Motivation Extrinsic Motivation: grades, scholarships, money – Removed = behavior falls – Ex: Senioritis! Intrinsic Motivation: personal enjoyment Overjustification: extrinsic will displace internal motivation. – Ex: Musician making it BIG

Neuroscience of Emotion

Emotion a response of the whole organism involving:Emotion –Physiological arousal –Expressive behavior –Conscious experience Common sense theory

Emotions and the Autonomic Nervous System –Sympathetic NS Arousing –Parasympathetic NS Calming –Moderate is ideal

Emotions and the Autonomic Nervous System

Physiological Differences Among Specific Emotions Differences in brain activity –Amygdala –Frontal lobes Nucleus accumbens –Polygraph

Cognition and Emotion Cognition Does Not Always Precede Emotion Influence of the amygdala

Expressed Emotion

Culture & Emotional Expression

Levels of Analysis for the Study of Emotion

3 Theories of Emotion

1. James-Lange theory Our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli.

2. Cannon-Bard theory An emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers physiological responses and the subjective experience of emotion.

3. Two-factor theory Schachter-Singer to experience emotion one must be physically aroused and cognitively label the arousal.

Understanding Stress

Stress: process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors (+ or -), that we appraise as threatening or challenging.

Conflict and Stress Forced to choose between 2 or more opposing goals or desires... Approach-Approach : –2 desirable alternatives –positive results Avoidance-Avoidance : –2 undesirable alternatives –negative results Approach-Avoidance : –Have both desirable and undesirable results

The Stress Response System Hans Selye’s general adaptation syndrome (GAS) The body’s adaptive response to stress in three phases: –Alarm –Resistance –exhaustion

Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome

The End