Motivation and Emotion Chapter 5 Symbolism Motivation and
Motivation and Emotion Chapter 5
Symbolism, Motivation and Emotion • Symbolism: higher brain functions • Eg. Eating − Everyone needs to do it, so it is a basic human need − We are supposed to eat a certain way (good manners)
Symbolism, Motivation and Emotion • Motivation: • Drives us to a specific goal • Eat, drink, make friends, be happy, etc…
Symbolism, Motivation and Emotion • Emotion • State of the body that causes us to “feel” one way or another • Happy, sad, angry, etc… • Both emotion and motivation involve psychological and physiological factors
Hypothalamus • Primary center for emotions • People want pleasure and want to avoid pain • Center for these two needs • Fear, rage, hunger, thirst, sex drive are also located here
Amygdala • Can also create fear and aggression • Does not need higher brain functions to work you can actually become afraid if this is set off and there is nothing around you • How people can tell that someone is afraid
Reticular Activating System • Controls the amount of activity in the brain • Emotion and motivation all need some type of activity from the brain
Pituitary and Adrenal Glands • These glands secret hormones that activate certain parts of our bodies • Eg. When scared and motivated to leave an area, the adrenal glands assist our muscles by burning more energy, thus we move faster
Gonads • These glands allow hormones to be secreted that assist in the production of eggs or sperm • Sexual interest (desire) is controlled by androgens • Sexuality is more of a mental, symbolic gesture • The physical part of sex is usually a secondary role • Sex is a motivation for procreation, but is not necessary to survive like eating and sleeping…
Motivational Forces • Our bodies are driven to achieve certain goals • These goals are sometimes not known or controlled by us • Think our bodies as a start/stop cycle • Feel hungry eat stop eating digest repeat
Hunger • When we are hungry, our brain tells us • However, when we are angry or depressed, the level of acid and saliva may change • This can greatly effect how much we eat/don’t eat • Depression • Obesity
Thirst • The hypothalamus tells us when our tongue is dry, what temperature of liquid we want should be, and what the right amount of liquid is • We can drink the right amount of water after exercise, even before our brain tells us how much we need/want
Non-Survival Needs • We often find that we need some type of change • We also have a tendency to make more out of something than there needs to be
Non-Survival Needs • Curiosity Motive (mostly animals) • We slow down to watch accidents • We always seem intrigued by things we do not understand
Non-Survival Needs • Manipulative Motive (Primates) • Primates love to handle things • Humans do the same thing video games, twiddling fingers
Non-Survival Needs • Intrinsic Motivation • Coming from the person • Internal • Do something for its own reward
Non-Survival Needs • Extrinsic Motivation • We are rewarded for the things we do • You take a test to get an A, not for the learning of the material
Non-Survival Needs • Need for stimulation • Contact comfort • In an experiment, two monkeys were given two mothers • 1 mother was a set of wires with a feeding tube • 1 mother was a piece of terry cloth wrapped around wire − When scared, the monkey would go to the terry cloth for ‘help’
Non-Survival Needs • Need for stimulation • Studies have found that children that are not cared for properly are sicker and more unhealthy • The cerebellum is involved in emotional growth • Since this is involved in sensations and bodily movement, there is a connection with how much comfort is given to a baby & how well the cerebellum develops.
Emotions • Emotions are hard to define • Difference between anger and frustration • People do have primal emotions • Smile is universal • Facial expressions
Opponent-Process Theory • Once you experience a strong emotion, you will feel the opposite for a while afterwards • Very happy depressed
Opponent-Process Theory • Cognition/Emotion • Cognition involves the higher brain function • Anticipation is a big part of sensation, especially when we are waiting for something • Roller coaster • Society has developed emotional cues for different reactions − Our mind remembers and these reactions become more like instinct
Opponent-Process Theory • Emotional Intelligence • Made of many levels • This essentially means how well we handle emotional situations both personally & socially
Theories of Emotion • James-Lange Theory: Emotion is not created until AFTER the body reacts • Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotion is created WHILE the body reacts • Schachter’s Cognitive Theory: Emotion is created after our brain labels what we have seen/processed • This supports the ides that symbolism is tied into emotion
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