Motivation Theories and Body Weight

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Questions and Answers

What is motivation?

Wants or needs that direct behavior toward some goal.

What is intrinsic motivation?

Motivation based on internal feelings rather than external rewards.

What is extrinsic motivation?

Motivation that arises from external factors or rewards.

What is an instinct?

Species-specific pattern of behavior that is unlearned. Signup and view all the answers

What does drive-reduction theory explain?

Deviations from homeostasis create physiological needs that result in psychological drive states that direct behavior to meet the need. Signup and view all the answers

What is a habit?

Pattern of behavior in which we regularly engage. Signup and view all the answers

What does Yerkes-Dodson theory suggest about task performance?

Simple tasks are performed best when arousal levels are relatively high, while complex tasks are best performed when arousal is lower. Signup and view all the answers

What is the hierarchy of needs?

Spectrum of needs ranging from basic biological needs to social needs to self-actualization. Signup and view all the answers

What does satiation refer to?

Satisfaction/fullness. Signup and view all the answers

What is leptin?

Fat satiety hormone. Signup and view all the answers

What is metabolic rate?

Amount of energy expended in a given period of time. Signup and view all the answers

What does set-point theory assert?

Each individual has an ideal body weight, or set point, which is resistant to change. Signup and view all the answers

What is obesity?

When someone weighs more than what is generally accepted as healthy for a given height. Signup and view all the answers

What does overweight refer to?

An adult with a BMI (body mass index) of 25-29.9. Signup and view all the answers

What defines an obese individual?

An adult with a BMI of 30 and above. Signup and view all the answers

What is morbid obesity?

Being so overweight you have a high risk of death, BMI above 40. Signup and view all the answers

What does BMI stand for?

Body mass index. Signup and view all the answers

What is bariatric surgery?

Weight reduction done by modifying the gastrointestinal system to reduce food intake. Signup and view all the answers

What is Prader-Willi syndrome?

A genetic disorder that results in persistent feelings of intense hunger and reduced rates of metabolism. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes bulimia nervosa?

Type of eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging. Signup and view all the answers

What is binge eating disorder?

Type of eating disorder characterized by binge eating and associated distress. Signup and view all the answers

What defines anorexia nervosa?

Eating disorder characterized by maintaining body weight well below average through starvation and/or excessive exercise. Signup and view all the answers

What is a distorted body image?

Individuals view themselves as overweight even though they are not. Signup and view all the answers

What are eating disorders?

Maladaptive & persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact health. Signup and view all the answers

What regulates sexual motivation?

Limbic system structures such as the amygdala and nucleus accumbens. Signup and view all the answers

What is sexual strategies theory?

Men and women have different strategies regarding mating due to different adaptive problems. Signup and view all the answers

What are male sex hormones?

Androgens, specifically testosterone. Signup and view all the answers

What are female sex hormones?

Oestrogen, specifically estradiol. Signup and view all the answers

What does sexual orientation refer to?

Emotional and erotic attraction toward another individual. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Kinsey scale used for?

To categorize an individual's sexual orientation. Signup and view all the answers

What are the phases of the sexual response cycle?

Excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Signup and view all the answers

What is the refractory period?

A period that follows an orgasm during which an individual is incapable of experiencing another orgasm. Signup and view all the answers

What is transgender hormone therapy?

An attempt to make bodies look more like the opposite sex. Signup and view all the answers

What defines emotion?

Subjective state of being that we describe as our feelings in response to something. Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of emotion?

Physiological arousal, psychological appraisal, and subjective experience. Signup and view all the answers

What does James-Lange theory propose?

Emotions arise from physiological arousal. Signup and view all the answers

What is Cannon-Bard theory?

Physiological arousal and emotional experience occur at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

What does Schachter-Singer two-factor theory of emotion explain?

Emotions consist of two factors: physiological and cognitive. Signup and view all the answers

What is a polygraph?

Lie detector test that measures physiological arousal as individuals answer questions. Signup and view all the answers

What does Lazarus cognitive-mediational theory suggest?

Our emotions are determined by our appraisal of the stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is the limbic system responsible for?

Associated with emotion and memory. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the hypothalamus play in emotional reactions?

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system and involvement in emotional reactions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the thalamus?

Sensory relay center projecting to the amygdala and cortical regions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the amygdala?

Processing emotional information and sending it to cortical structures. Signup and view all the answers

What does the hippocampus integrate?

Emotional experience with cognition. Signup and view all the answers

What is the basolateral complex involved in?

Classical conditioning and attaching emotional value to memory. Signup and view all the answers

What does the central nucleus regulate?

Attention and autonomic nervous and endocrine systems' activity. Signup and view all the answers

What is Hans Selye's response-based definition of stress?

Response of the body to any demand, regardless of positive or negative. Signup and view all the answers

What is stress defined as?

A process whereby an individual perceives and responds to overwhelming or threatening events. Signup and view all the answers

What is primary appraisal in stress responses?

Judgment about the degree of potential harm or threat from a stressor. Signup and view all the answers

What is secondary appraisal?

Judgment of options available to cope with a stressor. Signup and view all the answers

What is health psychology?

A subfield of psychology focused on the importance of psychological influences on health. Signup and view all the answers

What is Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

Hans Selye's three-stage model of physiological reactions to stress. Signup and view all the answers

What are psychophysiological disorders?

Physical disorders worsened by stress and emotional factors. Signup and view all the answers

What is immunosuppression?

Decreased effectiveness of the immune system. Signup and view all the answers

What is psychoneuroimmunology?

The field that studies psychological factors' influence on the immune system. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Motivation

Motivation is the driving force behind behaviors aimed at achieving specific goals or fulfilling needs.
Intrinsic motivation originates from internal satisfaction or personal interest, while extrinsic motivation is influenced by external rewards or factors.

Theories of Motivation

Drive-Reduction Theory suggests physiological needs lead to psychological drive states, prompting behavior to regain homeostasis.
Yerkes-Dodson Theory posits that optimal arousal levels vary depending on task complexity—simple tasks require high arousal, while complex tasks benefit from lower arousal.

Needs and Satiation

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs outlines a spectrum ranging from basic biological necessities to self-actualization.
Leptin is a hormone that signals fullness, playing a role in the regulation of hunger.

Body Weight and Obesity

Set-point theory claims individuals maintain a natural weight range resistant to change.
Definitions of body weight classifications:
- Overweight: BMI of 25-29.9
- Obese: BMI of 30 and above
- Morbid obesity: BMI over 40, posing a high risk of death.

Eating Disorders

Prader-Willi Syndrome is characterized by insatiable hunger and low metabolism.
Types of eating disorders include:
- Bulimia nervosa—binge eating followed by purging.
- Binge eating disorder—similar to bulimia but without purging behaviors and includes distress.
- Anorexia nervosa—persistent starvation leading to significantly low body weight.
Distorted body image may lead individuals, particularly those with anorexia nervosa, to see themselves as overweight when they are not.

Sexual Motivation

Sexual motivation involves the limbic system, particularly structures like the amygdala and nucleus accumbens, which regulate the drive for sexual activity.
Sexual strategies theory indicates differing mating strategies between men and women due to distinct adaptive challenges.

Hormones and Sexual Orientation

Male sex hormones include androgens such as testosterone; female sex hormones encompass oestrogens like estradiol.
Sexual orientation refers to an individual's emotional and erotic attraction to others, often categorized using the Kinsey scale.

The Sexual Response Cycle

The sexual response cycle consists of four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.
A refractory period is the recovery time after orgasm during which another orgasm is not possible.

Emotion

Emotions are subjective experiences accompanied by physiological responses and cognitive assessments.
The James-Lange Theory suggests emotions are the result of physiological arousal, while Cannon-Bard Theory claims they occur simultaneously.

Theories of Emotion

Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory states that emotions are based on both physiological and cognitive factors.
Lazarus’ cognitive-mediational theory highlights that emotional responses depend on individual appraisals of stimuli.

The Brain and Emotion

The limbic system, including the hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus, governs emotional processing and memory.
The hypothalamus influences emotional reactions and sympathetic nervous system activation, while the amygdala processes emotional information.

Stress

Stress is defined as a response to perceived threats or overwhelming events.
Primary appraisal assesses the potential harm of a stressor, whereas secondary appraisal involves evaluating coping options and their effectiveness.
Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome describes the body's stress response in three stages: alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion.

Health Psychology

Health psychology focuses on psychological influences on health and responses to illness.
Psychoneuroimmunology studies the interplay of psychological factors, stress, and immune function, including the concept of immunosuppression, which makes individuals more vulnerable to health issues.

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Description

Explore the intricate world of motivation through various theories that explain human behavior and needs. This quiz covers intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and insights into body weight regulation. Test your understanding of how these concepts influence our daily lives and choices.