1. The Psychology of Motivation

2. Motivation
Motive- a stimulus that moves a person to behave in ways designed to accomplish a specific goal.
Need- a condition in which we require something we lack
There are biological and psychological needs. Bio can be food or sleep. Psych can be achievement, self esteem, and social approval.
They differ because psych needs are not based on deprivation and they are usually learned; such as a vegan diet.
Drives- the forces that motivate an organism to take action.

3. Theories of Motivation

4. Instinct Theory
Instinct- behavior patterns genetically past down through generations. Meaning you are not taught it, you just know it.
Animals have instincts that are uniform for all of their kind. Siamese fighting fish attack others. Bees do a kind of dance to alert others to where food is.
Not all animal behavior is instinctive though.
This used to be thought to apply to humans, but most psychologists today disagree and do not believe human behavior is primarily motivated by instinct. Because we all do not act the same.

5. Drive Reduction Theory
Formulated by Clark Hull in the 1930s.
The theory is basically that we have several drives, both instinctual and learned. For example we all need to eat, but we also like money. So we are motivated to reduce our different drives.
Big part of this theory is homeostasis- the tendency to maintain a state of equilibrium in the body.
So if the drive is food, you would eat until you are no longer hungry. For money, you would continue to work hard and get better jobs until you were able to live comfortably.
Doesn’t explain all of our motivations though. For example people eat when they are not even hungry.

6. Humanistic Theory This theory is far more centered on the individual.
Humanistic Theory- people are motivated by the conscious desire for personal growth and artistic fulfillment.
They argue that sometimes this outweighs our drive for more basic needs.
Examples being artists, musicians, and writers that continue to commit to their art despite the fact that they are struggling to make a living doing so.
Abraham Maslow, a pioneer of this theory organized a hierarchy for our needs with the top one being self actualization.
Self Actualization- refers to the need to become what one believes they are capable of

7. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

8. Sociocultural Theory
Argue that even if basic drives are inborn, our cultural experiences influence how we satisfy those drives.
For example the food you eat or how you eat it is shaped by culture.
This accounts for whether prefer hot dogs or tacos, coffee or tea.
Also effects whether people kiss on the lips or rub noses to show affection

9. Questions What is a motive? How are needs and drives related?
What is the term for our bodies’ tendency to maintain a state of equilibrium?
Why do psychologists believe that little human behavior is actually instinctive?
By the end of the school day, most students and teachers are eager to finish classes. Use drive-reduction theory to describe why this happens.
Using each of the 4 theories, explain the motivation of thirst.
How have you achieved self actualization? Describe what you have done or what you hope to do to reach that level on Maslow’s Hierarchy.

10. Motivated to Buy Assignment
Get into groups of no more than 4
Each group will design an advertisement for a product of their choosing.
Students should use one or more of the motivation theories in their ads.
Groups will be given a sheet of poster paper and some markers in order to complete their ads.