Lisa Miller
Motivation and Emotion
Professor Ashy: PS101-Spring 2002
=> MOTIVATION:
An internal state that activates behavior; it directs our thoughts.
=> EMOTIONS:
Positive or negative feelings usually accompanied by behavior and physiological arousal; they generally occur in response to stimulus sensations.
=> PRIMARY MOTIVES:
-> Motives/motivation toward things that is necessary for survival (e.g., food, H2O, and warmth).
=> HOMEOSTATIC MECHANISMS:
They help regulate biological imbalances in the body; they stimulate actions to restore appropriate balance.
Hunger is regulated by 3 centers in the hypothalamus:
1. The Feeding System
2. The Satiety System
3. The 3rd center increases and decreases appetite; it controls blood sugar levels.
Stomach contractions and blood sugar levels (in humans) help regulation of hunger.
Body fat levels suggest involvement with long-term regulation of hunger.
ð PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS:
è Involved in the regulation of food intake; learning, emotions and incentives = examples of psychological factors.
ð HYPOTHALAMUS:
-> It regulates thirst too!
=> REGULATION OF DRINKING:
-> Cues that aid/help with this regulation:
1. Dryness in/of mouth
2. Loss of H2O by cells
3. Blood volume reduced
* (Incentives and Learning can also help w/regulation of thirst)
=> PSYCHOLOGICAL MOTIVES:
-> They are motives;
-> They relate to happiness and well-being of an individual (NOT to survival!).
-> There are 4 major motives (psychological motives):
* Need for/Seeking Novel Stimulation
* Need for Affiliation; the preference to be with others
* Need for Achievement; the psychological need for success
* Seeking an Optimal Level of Arousal
=> YERKES-DODSON LAW:
-> It states, “If arousal is too low, performance will be inadequate; if arousal is too high, it may disrupt performance.”
=> RICHARD SOLOMON:
-> He proposed the “Opponent Process Theory”:
* It explained how we learn and/or acquire new motives.
=> INTRINSIC MOTIVATION:
-> Motives stimulated by the inherent nature of the activity.
=> EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION:
-> Motives stimulated by external rewards.
=> MASLOW:
-> Organization of motives occurs in a hierarchy; arrangement begins at the most basic, and it then proceeds toward the most personal and advanced.
ð SIX BASIC EMOTIONS:
è Love
è Joy
è Surprise
è Anger
è Sadness
è Fear
* (Thus, “Emotions are the experiences that give color, meaning, and intensity to our lives)
ð SEVERAL THEORIES ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN EMOTIONS:
è The “James-Lange” theory of emotion
è The “Cannon-Bard” theory of emotion
è Cognitive Theories
ð THE COGNITIVE PROCESS:
è According to Schachter and Singer, it includes:
· Interpretation of stimuli from the body and/or environment
· (Most Psychologists infer that basic emotions are predominantly inborn/inate/natural/instinctive (…ok!)) J
· However, they also (most psychologists) believe that learning plays a chief and/or important role in emotions.
ð AGGRESSION:
-> It’s “A complex phenomenon”; its foundation has been an ongoing controversy
=> FREUD (briefly):
-> People are born with “potent aggressive instincts” unleashed by means of catharsis (a/the process of catharsis).
=> OTHER PSYCHOLOGISTS ON AGGRESSION:
-> A reaction stems from an obstruction and/or the blocking of important motives; the Frustration-Aggression Theory.
=> A THIRD VIEW ON AGGRESSION (Social Learning Theorists):
-> It is a learned behavior
=> VIOLENT YOUTH GANGS:
-> They represent one of several challenges faced by our society
-> Staub’s Proposition:
* Harsh and inadequate parenting, peer rejection of aggressive children, and the confused opinions/messages portrayed by our society (in terms of violence) lend equal contribution toward youth gangs.