{ 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 & Eating  Biological 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. 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. 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): 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 Emotions 1. 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