Psychology 101: Motivation

What is the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)?

- Responds to stimuli that signals potential pain and punishment * Several structures of the limbic system and right frontal lobe

What is the Behavioral Activation System (BAS)?

- Roused to action by signals of potential reward and positive need gratification * prefrontal area in left hemisphere

What is Autonomy?

a need to achieve greater freedom and regulation by the self, rather than by external forces

What are the 3 fundamental needs?

competence, autonomy, and relatedness

What is motivation?

process that influences the direction, persistence, and vigor of goal-directed behavior

What is the drive-reduction theory?

(Hull, 1945) Physiological need creates a tension state (aka: Drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy need

Hierarchy of needs

- Maslow: Lower level needs must be fulfilled before high level needs can be addressed and met

cognitive Processes

- incentives - expectancy x value theory: behavior is determined by: * expectancy= strength of the expectation that behavior will lead to a goal * incentive value that a person places a goal on * motivation driven by expectancy x incentive value

What are internal forces?

- instincts - need to maintain homeostasis * internal physiological equilibrium that the body strives to maintain - governed by distinct neural systems (BAS and BIS)

Psychodynamic

- motivated by drives which are internal tension states that build until satisfied - unconscious motivation

What does Freud think are the two basic drives in life?

Sex and Aggression

Evolutionary Perspective

- instincts which are relatively fixed patterns of behavior produced without learning - contemporary interpretation: motivational systems selected by nature for their ability to maximize reproductive success * eat for survival and reproduction - power and love are important motivations

Cognitive Perspective

- role of thought processes in initiating behavior - active, conscious decision-making determines goals and means to achieve them - attribution theory * perception of causality essential to response

What is contemporary?

Multiple motivational Systems - relatedness and Self esteem

What influences motivation?

Neural and other internal and external forces

What is Relatedness?

a need to form meaningful bonds with others

What is Competence?

a need to master new challenges and to perfect skills

What is Self-transcendence?

focus on committing self to others or higher being

What is Self-actualization?

motives to express oneself and grow: actualization of potential

What is Intrinsic motivation?

performing an activity for its own sake or enjoyment

What is Extrinsic motivation?

performing an activity to obtain an external reward or to avoid punishment