Chapter 12

Motivation and Emotion

Motivation

Motivation An internal state that activates

behavior and directs it toward a goal

Psychologists infer motivation from goal-directed behavior Human behavior is energized by

many motives that may originate from the outside of us or inside of us

Motivation

Name some things that motivate youWe experience motivation in

different ways because of: Instinct Drive-reduction Incentive Cognitive theories of motivation

Instinct

Innate tendencies that determine behavior Psychologist William McDougall was the

first to note the concept that humans are motivated by instinct

Psychologist William James stated that humans have the instincts of: cleanliness, curiosity, parental, love, sociability, and sympathy.

Instinct

Flaws with the instinct theory: They do not explain behavior, they label

it It is still studied, but have began to

focus on other theories to explain motivation

Motivation Drive-Reduction Theory

the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need

Drive-reducingbehaviors

(eating, drinking)

Need(e.g., for

food, water)

Drive(hunger, thirst)

Drive-Reduction Theory

Need Biological or psychological requirement

of an organism Drive

A state of tension produced by a need that motivates an organism toward a goal

Homeostasis tendency to maintain a balanced or

constant internal state regulation of any aspect of body

chemistry around a particular level

Harry Harlow Monkey Experiment

Proved that the drive-reduction theory wasn’t necessarily true

The monkey spent more time with the cloth monkey for comfort and just enough time for getting food from the other

Incentive

An external stimulus, reinforcer, or reward that motivates behavior

People are motivated to obtain positive incentives and to avoid negative incentives

Cognitive Theory

Extrinsic motivation: engaging in activities that either reduce biological needs or help us obtain external incentives

Intrinsic motivation- engaging in activities because they are personally rewarding or because they fulfill our beliefs and expectations

Over-justification Effect

When people are given extrinsic motivation needed to perform a task, their intrinsic motivation declines

Book example: You enjoy reading –someone begins paying

you to read You question whether you should read or

not You stop getting paid, you might lose

complete interest in the task

Section 2

Biological and Social Motives

Biological Motives

Biological needs are critical to our survival and physical well-being

We have built in regulating systems Body temperature Blood sugar levels Production of hormones

Homeostasis

The tendency of all organisms to correct imbalances and deviations from their normal state

Hunger

What motivates us to eat? Smell? Habit?

Body requires food to grow, to repair itself, and store reserves Lateral hypothalamus- the part of the

hypothalamus that produces hunger signals Ventromedial- the part of the hypothalamus

that can cause one to stop eating

Motivation-Hunger

Stomach contractions accompany our feelings of hunger

Motivation-Hunger

Glucose the form of sugar that

circulates in the blood provides the major source of

energy for body tissues when its level is low, we feel

hunger

Motivation-Hunger

Set Point the point at which an individual’s

“weight thermostat” is supposedly set

when the body falls below this weight, an increase in hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may act to restore the lost weight

Basal Metabolic Rate body’s base rate of energy

expenditure

Motivation-Hunger

The hypothalamus controls eating and other body maintenance functions

Motivation-Hunger

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa when a normal-weight person diets and

becomes significantly (>15%) underweight, yet, still feeling fat, continues to starve

usually an adolescent female Bulimia Nervosa

disorder characterized by episodes of overeating, usually of high-calorie foods, followed by vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise

Motivation at Work

Flow a completely, involved, focused state of

consciousness, with diminished awareness of self and time, resulting from optimal engagement of one’s skills

Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology the application of psychological concepts

and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces

Motivation at Work

Personnel Psychology sub-field of I-O psychology that focuses

on employee recruitment, selection, placement, training, appraisal, and development

Organizational Psychology Sub-field of I-O psychology that examines

organizational influences on worker satisfaction and productivity and facilitates organizational change

Motivation at Work

Motivation at Work

Structured Interview process that asks the same job-

relevant questions of all applicants rated on established scales

Achievement Motivation a desire for significant

accomplishment for mastery of things, people, or

ideas for attaining a high standard

Motivation at Work

Personnel psychologists’ tasks

Motivation at Work

360-degree feedback

Motivation at Work

On the right path

Motivation

Task Leadership goal-oriented leadership that sets

standards, organizes work, and focuses attention on goals

Social Leadership group-oriented leadership that

builds teamwork, mediates conflict, and offers support

Motivation

Theory X assumes that workers are basically lazy,

error-prone, and extrinsically motivated by money

workers should be directed from above Theory Y

assumes that, given challenge and freedom, workers are motivated to achieve self-esteem and to demonstrate their competence and creativity

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

begins at the base with physiological needs that must first be satisfied

then higher-level safety needs become active

then psychological needs become active

Self-actualization needsNeed to live up to one’s

fullest and unique potential

Esteem needsNeed for self-esteem,

achievement, competence,and independence; need for

recognition and respect from others

Safety needsNeed to feel that the world is organized and

predictable; need to feel safe, secure, and stable

Belongingness and love needsNeed to love and be loved, to belong

and be accepted; need to avoid loneliness and alienation

Physiological needsNeed to satisfy hunger and thirst