Chapter 10: Motivation

What is motivation? 1. What do you guys think? 2. Motivation is the driving force behind a given behavior 3. It is the ‘why’ behind what we do. It has biological, social, and cognitive roots.

Theories of Motivation 1. Drive-reduction theory 2. Arousal theory 3. Maslow’s Hierarchy

Another Motivating factor: The Need to Belong 1. Cooperation increases survival – what type of psychological perspective is this? 2. It makes us feel good 3. Social acceptance & self-esteem 4. Still don’t think it is NECESSARY?

Achievement & Motivation 1. This is the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of motivation – our internal drive to do well 2. There seem to be both emotional and cognitive roots behind achievement motivation 3. Encouragement (pep talks) seems to increase this brand of motivation

Homeostasis 1. This is Latin for ‘same state’ 2. It is referring to a set of internal processes that keep the body operating within a fixed range on a number of different variables  Who can think of a good example?

Sex: Physiology  Sexual behavior has 4 distinct stages 1. Excitement 2. Plateau 3. Orgasm 4. Refractory  Two hormones are important (and required) for normal sexual activity: estrogen and testosterone

Sex: Psychology 1. Exposure to outside stimuli (real or imagined) increases feelings of sexual arousal 2. Sexual Dysfunction – inability to experience normal sexual activity  Erectile dysfunction  Premature ejaculation  Orgasmic disorder

Sexual Orientation  There are a number of biological factors that may influence our sexual orientation: 1. Research has shown there does seem to be some brain differences between homosexuals and heterosexuals  There is still a ‘chicken or the egg’ problem 2. Genetic influence 3. Exposure to atypical prenatal hormones may change the ‘sexualization’ of the brain

Hunger: Physiology & Psychology  Did you know there are actual biological constraints on what we eat? 1. Dairy & lactose intolerance 2. Teeth! 3. Sweet vs. bitter  There are also psychological influences on what we eat 1. Taste, experience, & culture  Conditioned aversions

Physiology: Metabolism  Your basal metabolic rate is the body’s use of energy to carry our daily bodily maintenance – just to keep things running  Set-point is determined by: 1. Metabolism 2. Food intake 3. Energy output

What makes us feel full? 1. Would the Willie Wonka gum actually make us feel satisfied? 2. Or could we just fill our stomachs with nutrients and be satisfied?

Energy Feedback System 1. What does the body use as fuel? 2. When you eat, your body produces insulin to help you get that glucose into your cells, makes you less hungry  What happens in diabetes? 3. The hypothalamus plays a very important role in this system

Hunger: Psychology 1. Why is it so hard to get kids to try new foods? 2. We tend to eat different foods depending on how we are feeling 3. Some foods are culture specific

Serious Problems with Eating and Nutrition  Obesity –is the most common problem  Eating Disorders: 1. Anorexia Nervosa 2. Bulimia Nervosa

Obesity 1. Obesity is defined as being 20% over your ideal weight 2. About 25% of adults in the U.S. are obese 3. Major health problems – Type II diabetes, heart disease 4. Genetics, life style & stress are all contributors

Anorexia 1. This is basically controlled starvation of one’s self  Fewer than 800 calories per day, usually from a restricted number of foods  Much more common in women than in men  More common in upper socio-economic & Caucasian women 2. It is considered to be an anxiety disorder – intense fear of becoming fat

More about Anorexia  Characteristics of girls who develop anorexia: 1. Come from overbearing/controlling parents 2. Anxious personality traits – shyness, perfectionism, social anxiety 3. Loss of a family member early in life 4. Depression  Anorexia is not just about wanting to be thin, it is about feeling out of control

Bulimia 1. This disorder is typified by intense binge eating, followed by purging 2. Purging is usually through vomiting, but can also be achieved through improper use of laxatives 3. Psychological aspects of the disease are similar to those of anorexia 4. Often more difficult to diagnose – secretive behavior and less obvious results

Consequences of Eating Disorders 1. Death 2. Osteoporosis 3. Heart and other cardiovascular problems, including stroke 4. Damage to the esophagus, stomach, teeth, mouth