MODULE 37 MOTIVATIONAL CONCEPTS 37 1 Define motivation

MODULE 37 MOTIVATIONAL CONCEPTS

37. 1 Define motivation as psychologists use the term and identify the perspective useful for studying motivated behavior. • Motivation: need/desire that energizes and directs behavior 4 perspectives: • Instinct Theory (Evolutionary Theory): genetically predisposed behavior • Drive Reduction Theory: see homeostasis • Arousal Theory: seeking stimulation (Yerkes-Dodson) • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: What of the levels/stages are the most important?

Instincts and Evolutionary Perspective • Due to Darwin came the idea to classify many behaviors as instincts • Instinct: unlearned but complex behavior that is ingrained in a species (reflexes) • Evolutionary psychology: genes do predispose our behaviors

Drives and Incentives • Drive Reduction theory: a physiological need creates tension/arousal (drive) that organism wants to satisfy • Seek homeostasis: balanced internal state • Also seek incentives: (extrinsic/intrinsic) positive or negative environmental stimuli that motivates behavior • Combined with needs=feel strong drive

Optimum Arousal • Sometimes we seek more arousal • Yerkes-Dodson: performance increases with arousal up to a point, too much arousal becomes a detriment

Hierarchy of Motives (Maslow) • Some needs are more important at some points

MODULE 38 HUNGER MOTIVATION

38. 1 Describe the physiological factors that produces hunger • Body Chemistry and the Brain • Major source of energy is glucose: sugar that is used by body for energy. Low=hungry • Stomach, intestine, and liver work with brain • Hypothalamus—influences eating • Neural arc secretes appetite stimulating hormone, another arc secretes the opposite • Lateral hypothalamus: causes you to eat • Ventromedial hypothalamus: causes you to feel satisfied • Registers chemicals/hormones: (next slide)

• Ghrelin: hunger arousing hormone. • Insulin: controls glucose, secreted by the pancreas • Leptin: causes metabolism to increase and hunger to decrease, secreted by actual fat cells • Orexin: increases hunger, secreted by hypothalamus • PYY: tells the brain you are no longer hungry, produced by digestive tract

Weight Thermostat • We hover around a set point: a “weight” for an individual that controls metabolism and weight loss • Basal metabolic rate: resting rate of energy being burned

38. 2 What cultural and situational factors influence hunger • Taste Preferences: Biology and Culture • Carbs/sweets boost serotonin…calming • Sweet/salty: genetic and universal • Conditioning can change taste • Culture teaches “acceptable” foods • Biological/environment influence taste

Situational Influences on Eating • Ecology of eating • Eat more with others • Unit bias—difference between Europeans/Americans • Food Variety • Eat more when offered more

Environmental Factors of Obesity • Sleep loss: vulnerable to weight gain • Lowers leptin to report fat levels to the brain and increases ghrelin