Motivation: Drives, Hunger, and the Hierarchy of Needs

Please close your eyes and think about the future. What do you want to happen?

Motivation Guides BehaviorMotivation: is a stimulus that

directs behavior.Behavior is guided by both

physiological and psychological needs/desires.

What types of things motivate us?

major theories of MOTIVATION

•Instinct / Evolutionary Perspective•Drive Reduction •Incentive•Arousal Theory•Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Instinct(Motivational Theory # 1)

Refers to inherited patterns of behavior that are unlearned (genetically transmitted)

Ex: Imprinting

IMPRINTING:

Owen the baby hippo & Mzee, the 130-year-old tortoise

the process by which animals form attachments during a limited critical period early in life

IMPRINTING

Tink the dachsand & her piglet “puppy”, Pink.

Instinct(Motivational Theory #1)

+ Provides survival value

– Doesn’t meet the complexity of most human behavior

Instinct to Survive

Internal MotivationHow do you know

when you need a glass of water?

Need: a situation where you require something we lack.

This Feeling of Thirstiness Creates a Drive

Drive: caused by some need. Ex: Thirst or hunger

Drives motivate us to do behave in a certain way.

The goal of our body according to some

psychologists, is to ELIMINATE all drives so that we can experience homeostasis: a balanced or constant internal state that the body regulates.

Alive

Drive Reduction Theory (Motivational Theory # 2)

Drive Reduction Theory: idea that physiological (biological) needs create drives which motivates an organism to satisfy the need.

Ex: Thirstiness (physiological need) creates tension state (drive) which motivates you to get water.

After you drink, the drive is reduced and you are closer to homeostasis.

Drive Reduction Theory (Motivational Theory 2)

+ Primary drives satisfied

+ Homeostasis for bio needs

– Does not account for secondary motives

Drive Reduction Theory (Motivational Theory #2)

Examples of secondary motives:

curiosity sensation seeking play achievement affiliation Power

Drive Reduction Theory does not explain why we want these things!

Incentive Theory(Motivational Theory #3)

Incentives Theory: a positive or negative ENVIRONMENTAL (has to be external) stimulus motivates behavior.

Incentives are not “needs”.Ex: money, etc.

Contrasting approaches

Drive reduction theory

• 5 hours since last meal

• Hunger

• internal

Incentive theory

• Ice cream truck

• Palatability (good tasting)

• external

Exploration Scale

Arousal Theory (Motivational Theory #4)

Based on 2 basic ideas: Individuals perform tasks at different

levels of arousal (wakefulness/stress).Each individual seeks to find its

optimal level of arousal to perform tasks and to avoid boredom.

People with high levels of optimal

arousal may be more susceptible to thrill seeking activities while those with low levels may seek out more relaxing quiet activities.

We are motivated to do some things to maintain our arousal.

Babies Explore their surroundings out of curiosity.

Monkeys Illustrating Optimal Arousal

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs(Motivation Theory 5)

Physical Needs at bottom must be met first.

Psychological goals come after…ultimate goal is self actualization.

Quick Review: Why Do We Eat?Incentive Theory would argue:

Drive Reduction Theory would argue:

Optimal Arousal Theory would argue:

Quick Review: What is the purpose of romance?

Incentive Theory would argue:

Drive Reduction Theory would argue:

Optimal Arousal Theory would argue:

Time’s Affect on HungerMemory of our last meal can also affect

hunger along with our schedule of when we usually eat.Ex. Amnesia Patients who cannot remember their last meal will readily eat another meal soon after the previous one.

Learning (External Environment) and Hunger

If good eating habits are positively reinforced and bad habits punished, children will often eat healthy. Type of conditioning?

People can also develop taste aversions due to certain associations.

Ex: chemotherapy patients.Modeling: imitation of healthy or poor

eating habits can effect a child’s eating.Ex: Parents Eat Junk Food

Culture’s Influence on EatingAlthough our preferences for sweet and

salty foods are genetic and universal, our culture’s eating norms affect our specific eating habits.

Monkey Stew is a popular dish in some Eastern cultures. This steak would seem repulsive to

eat to most Hindus.

Bizarre Foods

Reinforcements Influence on Eating

Example: May finish your vegetables to stop your mom from nagging you or to make your grandma happy.

If you eat brussel sprouts, you get dessert

Culture’s Influence on Eating (disorders)

Many argue the impossible standards of beauty put out by popular culture has lead to an increase in eating disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa: eating disorder in which a normal-weight person diets and becomes significantly underweight, yet still feels fat and starves themselves.

Bulimia Nervosa: an eating disorder usually characterized by excessive eating followed by vomiting.

Changing Beauty Standards Correlate with Eating Disorders

KATE MOSSMARILYN MONROEIDEAL UNTIL 1900’S

Anorexia Often Ends In Death

Women’s Distorted Ideals of Body Image

Thinnest Women’sideal

What womenbelieved men

preferred

What menactually

preferred

Women’scurrent

body image

Fattest

Achievement Motivation Achievement Motivation: desire to

accomplish things and attaining a high standard. The Most Inspiring Thing Ever Said

2 Types of Achievement Motivation: 1. Intrinsic Motivation: performing

task for its own sake.2. Extrinsic Motivation: performing

task because of you will receive rewards or punishments.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic

Mom: “I’ll give you $5 for every A.’’Controlling reward

Child: “As long as she pays, I’ll study.’’Extrinsic motivation

Mom: “Your grades were great! Let’s celebrate by going out for dinner.’’Informative reward

Child: “I love doing well.’’Intrinsic motivation

Mr. Holland's Opus

Mr. Holland’s OpusMr. Holland's Opus

Example of extrinsic motivation:

Example of intrinsic motivation:

Intrinsic or Extrinsic?

You are facing a deadline in which you must get a paper done.

Intrinsic or Extrinsic?

You read a good nonfiction book for the sake of learning new things.

Intrinsic or Extrinsic?

You practice your sport because you enjoy playing it.

Intrinsic or Extrinsic?

You perform your job well because you think it will get you a bonus at the end of the year.

Intrinsic or Extrinsic?

You start working out because you want to pick up more ladies.

Intrinsic or Extrinsic?

You write poetry because you like getting your feelings out on paper.

Intrinsic or Extrinsic?

You are a coach and you give a player the “most improved” award.

“Making Things Fit”Cognitive ConsistencyBalance TheoryCognitive-Dissonance Theory

Cognitive ConsistencyThe idea that people seek to think

and behave in a way that fits what they believe and how others expect them to think and behave.Ex-someone who is politically a

republican would find it difficult to support a liberal candidate

Ex-boys and girls trying to behave consistently with what people expect males and females in their society

Balance TheoryThe view that people need to

organize their perceptions, opinions, and beliefs in a manner that is in harmony with those of the people around themWhen the people we like share our

attitudes, there is a state of balance that gives us a feeling all is well

Balance Theory continued…Ex- a group of friends all sharing a

common interestEx- a couple starting a new

relationship, but are upset at discovering a major area of disagreement

Cognitive-Dissonance TheorySuggests that people make an

attitudinal changes to reduce the tension that occurs when their thoughts and attitudes are inconsistent with their actionsEx- couple in a relationship disagreeing

about religion. C-D theory suggest that people may seek to reduce the dissonance by trying to pretend that the differences between them are unimportant or even by denying that the differences exist

AffiliationThe desire to join with others and be

part of something larger than oneselfPrompts people to make friendsJoin groupsParticipate in group activities

Sports teamGlee ClubBand