Motivation

1. Motivation “Hope is a good thing - maybe the best thing. And good things never die.” Andy Duphrene The Shawshank Redemption

2. Motivation • An inner state (either a need or desire) that energizes & directs us and keeps us moving toward our goals • Why we do what we do

3. Instinct Theory • Instincts • Inherited tendencies to produce organized and unalterable responses to particular stimuli • Examples • Freud: instincts toward sex/aggression (i.e. the id) • Evolutionary theory: we are ‘hard-wired’ to reproduce and perpetuate genetic makeup • 2 flaws • Circular logic • Many so-called instinctual behaviors are learned, shaped, and influenced by those around us

4. Drive-Reduction Theory • Drive • A motivation that pushes you to reach a goal • Tension induced by need • Food, water, sex • Goal is to reduce the tension and restore homeostasis • Homeostasis: A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state • Flaw • Drive-reduction theory can’t explain behavior that increases, rather than reduces, stress

5. Additional Theories • Arousal Theory • People are motivated to achieve and maintain an optimum level of bodily arousal • Studies show that too little arousal and we get bored; too much arousal and we withdraw, in an effort to lower our levels of arousal • Incentive Theory • People are motivated to behave in ways that produce a valued incentive • Incentives work when we expect that we can gain the incentive and when we value the incentive

6. What DO motivation theorists agree on? • The amazing diversity of human behavior! Social Achievement Affiliation Autonomy Nurturance Dominance Exhibition Order Play Biological Hunger Thirst Sex Temperature Excretion Sleep/Activity Aggression

7. More Theories on Motivation • Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Self-actualization Cognitive & Aesthetic needs Esteem Belongingness & Love Safety & Security Physiological

8. A closer look . . . at hunger • Influenced by • Blood sugar level • Glucose - a simple sugar • Dips in glucose levels lead to increases in hunger • Brain • The lateral hypothalamus ‘starts’ the feeling of hunger, the ventromedial hypothalamus ‘stops’ feelings of hunger • Hormones • Insulin - must be present to extract glucose from blood • Insulin stimulates the storage of food molecules as fat • Set point – the particular body weight that is easiest for an animal to maintain • Are relatively constant but can go up with prolonged over-eating (but does not tend to go down with prolonged under-eating)

9. A Closer Look . . . at hunger • If it were only that simple… • Environmental factors which influence hunger/eating • Learned preferences & habits • STRESS!! • External cues • It’s “dinnertime” • Dietary restraints • Problems with eating can result in all sorts of problems . . .

10. Problems with eating • Obesity • More than 20% above norm for height/build • You can’t lose fat cells, only shrink them • Basal metabolic rate • Rate at which body burns calories just to stay alive • Aerobic activity will increase basal metabolic rate • Anorexia • Eating disorder marked by self-starvation • Bulimia • Eating disorder marked by binging & purging • BOTH caused by combo of brain & social malfunctioning

11. Affiliation Motive • Need to associate with others & maintain social bonds • Baumeister & Leary’s Sociometer hypothesis • Self-esteem is a measure of how well we fit in with the group • Important because social bonds offer survival & reproductive benefits

12. Achievement Motive • Need to master difficult challenges, outperform others, & meet high standards • Behavior depends on: • Incentive value • Expectancy