Why study Motivation The WHY of behavior Central

Why study Motivation? The WHY of behavior.

Central to Psychology See a behavior Looting in New Orleans Why did they do that? Hungry? Taking advantage of situation? Investigate the causes for action.

Investigating a crime. Example: young lady found murdered Means Opportunity Motive

Means How was the murder committed? Killed with a golf club Blow strong enough to be lethal

Opportunity Suspect in the same location. No alibi. Eye witness who saw the suspect at location. Red and white Ferrari

Motive Why? Not just an accident Money Jealousy Revenge Secret

Why is motive so important? What do you think?

Another example: Why might a person experiment with psychoactive drugs?

Possible reasons for drug use Interest Risk taking Peer influence Change of Mood Enjoyment

Intervention How should we help them stop? Just tell them to not to do it. Problem with just say no? Doesn’t deal with underlying reason Offer alternatives Reward for doing alternatives.

Possible alternatives for drug use Interest Risk taking Peer influence Change of Mood Enjoyment

For those who become addicted Drugs rule their lives. Lose motivation for other activities. Choices narrow. Loss of family, job, home. Yet some reach a turning point. Decide to quit.

Filling the void Loss of addiction leaves huge void. Must fill the void in order to feel whole. Fellowship of others: AA, CA, GA Spirituality “AA not about staying sober. It’s about finding a new way to live. ” Addiction and Grace

Define Motivation Study of those processes that give behavior its energy and direction. Energy: strength to start and complete task Direction: purpose, aimed at achieving goal

Elements Motivation based on Internal needs Thoughts and emotions And External events

Organizing Motivation Internal motives Needs Cognitions External events Emotions

Fire fighter rescues girl Internal motives Needs Thoughts Emotions External events

Internal Needs Biological needs: Essential to sustain life (food, water) Psychological needs Achievement, mastery Social needs Belonging to groups

Cognitive Needs Mental events (thoughts) Beliefs and expectations Ways of evaluating failures and successes Example: Do well on first test. Good study habits or luck?

Emotions Provide the fuel for action Emote: brings about actions Best plans of little use unless you carry them out. Emotional intelligence: knowing yourself and other people

External events Provide the reason for motivation Incentives for action Incentive are useful help direct behavior Allow us to direct the behavior of others

Training our puppy New puppy grabs my pencil and chews it to bits. I offer dog treat. He drops pencil. Puppy gets idea. Grabs anything in reach and brings it to me. Puppy blackmail.

Measuring motivation Often wonder if people are really motivated to complete a task. Working hard or hardly working? Set goals for people. How do we know they’re working to reach those goals along the way? Seek outward measure that we can agree upon.

Three measurement categories Behavior expressions: overtly observable Physiological measures: polygraph Self report: ask ‘em

Seven behavior expressions of motivation Example: send kids out to clear snow Effort: exertion big scoops? Latency: delay before starting now or “in a little while”? Choice: chose one thing over another shoveling or snow men?

Behavior expressions (cont) Persistence: stay with task finish job? Probability of response: take advantage of every opportunity shovel before you even ask (WOW) Facial expressions (pleasure or anger) Bodily gestures (fist or high fives)

Another example: exercising Effort Latency Persistence Choice Probability of response Facial expressions Bodily gestures

Physiological measures Measure emotion Polygraph Stress response Heart rate, sweat, respiration Indicate an emotional response Blood pressure Pupil size

Response of Pupil dilates if interested in something or someone Pupil constricts if you are not. Lighting conditions must be constant.

Self report Use surveys to assess motivational and emotion states. Many instruments available. Many have not been standardized. Not diagnostic tests Self assessments