Psychology Chapter on Motivation

Motivation

• A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior toward a goal

Motivation Factors

• Intensity: How hard an individual tries
• Direction: Focus of effort towards achieving targeted behavior
• Persistence: Continuous effort towards a goal

Psychological Perspectives of Motivation

• Evolutionary (Historical) Explanations
  • Instinct Theory
• Biological Explanations
  • Drive and Drive Reduction Theory
  • Arousal Theory
• Cognitive Explanations
  • Incentive Theory
• Behavioral Explanation
  • Incentive Theory
• Humanistic Explanations
  • Hierarchy of Needs
• Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Explanation
• Sociocultural Explanation

Theories of Motivation

• Instinct Theory: Motives are innate and based on genetically hard-wired behaviors, called instincts
  • Instinct: A complex, inherited and rigidly patterned behavior within a species
• **Drive and Drive Reduction Theory: ** Based on unmet biological needs and restoring a balance.
  • Drive: An internal state of tension triggered by an imbalance in the body. This tension motivates an organism to restore balance.
• Arousal Theory: People are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal; not too high, not too low
• **Incentive Theory: ** Motivation comes from external or internal stimuli that pull or push behavior
• Humanistic Theory: Based on a hierarchy of needs, with basic needs at the bottom and self-actualization at the top

Evolutionary Theory

• Instinct Theory: Organisms are born with pre-programmed tendencies to respond to certain events in specific ways.
  • Instinct: Genetically pre-programmed behaviors that enhance an organism's ability to cope with environmental situations.
  • Difficulty using instincts as labels and explanations for all behaviors.
  • Examples of Instincts: Rivalry, submission, sympathy, modesty, fear, secretiveness, shyness, repulsion, cleanliness, jealousy, food-seeking, curiosity, sociability, combativeness, parental love, hunting, and mating.

Instinct

• Motivation is based on innate, unlearned behaviors.

Drive-Reduction Theory

• Behavior is motivated by reducing internal tension caused by unmet biological needs.
• A physiological need creates an aroused tension state (drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need.
• Examples of drive-reducing behaviors: eating and drinking.

Drive

• Creates imbalances in the body.
• Triggers an organism to restore balance, typically reducing the drive itself.
• Part of the Drive-Reduction Theory.