Psychology: Motivation

AP Psychology 1/23/14 Motivation • What is motivation? • What are the four basic theories of motivation? Instinct theory • Early 1900s • Every behavior was explained as being an “instinct.” • Instincts are only complex behaviors that are unlearned and a fixed pattern throughout a species. • This was replaced by the evolutionary perspective--genes create predispositions for behavior. Drive-reduction theory • A physiological need creates a state of arousal that drives the organism to reduce said need. • Goal is homeostasis. • Incentives (positive/negative stimuli) also provide motivation. Arousal theory • Actions are driven by a desire for maximum stimulation Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 1. Self-actualization needs (“full person potential”—to be good, fully alive, and find meaning in life) 2. 3. 4. 5. Esteem needs Belongingness/love needs Safety needs Physiological needs • Give an example of each. Maslow • Do you believe Maslow’s hierarchy is in the correct order? Why/why not? • Give examples of human behavior to justify your opinion. Physiology of hunger • Hunger is caused by: Stomach pangs (contractions) Glucose levels (low) Hypothalamus (lateral & ventromedial) Hormones (ghrelin, leptin, PYY) Ghrelin • Ghrelin is a hormone produced in the stomach and the function of which is to tell the brain that the body has to be fed. Thus, the level of this secretion increases before eating and decreases after. It is known to be important in the development of obesity, given that, on stimulating the appetite, it favours an increase in body weight, explained Ms Amaia Rodríguez Murueta-Goyena, doctor in biology and main researcher of the study. • However, researchers at the University Hospital of Navarra have discovered that, besides stimulating the hypothalamus to generate appetite, ghrelin also acts on the tabula rasa cortex. They observed how this hormone favoured the accumulation of lipids in visceral fatty tissue. In concrete, it causes the over-expression of the fatty genes that take part in the retention of lipids, explained Ms Rodríguez. • It is precisely this accumulated fat in the region of the abdomen that is deemed to be most harmful, as it is accompanied by comorbidities, visceral obesity being related to higher blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Moreover, being located in the abdominal zone and in direct contact with the liver, this type of fatty tissue favours the formation of liver fat and increases the risk of developing resistance to insulin. Normally, on being associated with hypertension, high levels of triglycerides, resistance to insulin and hypercholesterolemia, visceral fat favours the metabolic syndrome, the researcher pointed out. Physiology of hunger • Set point: “weight thermostat.” The point where your body’s weight is set. Below = increased hunger/decreased metabolism, above = decreased hunger/increased metabolism. How does this impact your thoughts on diets? • “Settling point” emphasizes social/environmental impact on this point, whereas set point focuses on biology/genetics. Physiology of hunger • Basal metabolic rate: energy expenditure to maintain basic body functions when at rest. Basal = basic Which theory seems more valid—”set point” or “settling point?” http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerp ts/etiology-of-overweight-and-obesity-set-pointor-settling-point- Anti-obesity medicine • http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/09/25 /161583063/two-new-drugs-may-help-infight-against-obesity • According to psychological principles, how do these drugs work? Eating disorders • Anorexia nervosa: limiting food intake even when significantly below normal weight. • Bulimia nervosa: overeating followed by a purge. Marked by weight fluctuation. • Typical causes: negative self-image, childhood obesity, competitive/high-achieving family, genetic susceptibility, weight-conscious cultures, pressure on women, media pressures. From the APA • Who suffers from eating disorders? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, eating disorders primarily affect girls and women.1 But eating disorders aren't just a problem for the teenage women so often depicted in the media. Men and boys can also be vulnerable. About a quarter of preadolescent cases of anorexia occur in boys, for example. And binge eating disorder strikes males and females about equally. People sometimes have eating disorders without their families or friends ever suspecting that they have a problem. Aware that their behavior is abnormal, people with eating disorders may withdraw from social contact, hide their behavior, and deny that their eating patterns are problematic. Making an accurate diagnosis requires the involvement of a licensed psychologist or other appropriate mental health expert. From the APA • What causes eating disorders? Certain psychological factors and personality traits may predispose people to developing eating disorders. Many people with eating disorders suffer from low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and intense dissatisfaction with the way they look. Specific traits are linked to each of the disorders. People with anorexia tend to be perfectionistic, for instance, while people with bulimia are often impulsive. Physical factors such as genetics also may play a role in putting people at risk. A wide range of situations can precipitate eating disorders in susceptible individuals. Family members or friends may repeatedly tease people about their bodies. Individuals may be participating in gymnastics or other sports that emphasize low weight or a certain body image. Negative emotions or traumas such as rape, abuse, or the death of a loved one can also trigger disorders. Even a happy event, such as giving birth, can lead to disorders because of the stressful impact of the event on an individual's new role and body image. Once people start engaging in abnormal eating behaviors, the problem can perpetuate itself. Bingeing can set a vicious cycle in motion, for instance, as individuals purge to rid themselves of excess calories and psychic pain, then binge again to escape problems in their day-to-day lives. Evaluating eating disorders • Which factors do you believe are most important in causing eating disorders? Why? Homework • Read pages 481-494.