Chapter 11
Motivation
Motivation in Context
What motivates humans? Why do individuals differ in their level of motivation towards various tasks? What perspectives are used in the study of motivation? o Hunger/Thirst o Sexuality/Need to Belong o Achievement
Motivation
A need or desire that energizes behavior and directs it toward a goal
Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow (1970) suggested that certain needs have priority over others Physiological needs (breathing, thirst, hunger) come before psychological needs (achievement, self-esteem, love)
Self-actualization needs ciap
Esteem needs
from others
Belongingness and love needs Need to love and be loved,to
Safety needs rorld is ed and predictabl
need to feel safe, secure, and stable
Physiological needs
Need to satisfy hunger and thirst
Physiology of Hunger
There are biological and brain-related factors which impact hunger The ventromedial hypothalamus depresses hunger . Destroy it, and rats will eat excessively
Psychology of Hunger
Besides hunger, what factors influence when and what you eat Time since last meal (whether you are physically hungry or not) Taste preferences Social facilitation Portion sizes Food variety
Many factors influence hunger and eating, and motivation plays a key role in eating and weight- related disorders
Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa o Weight 85% less of their ideal body weight o Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though underweight o In women, amenorrhea oRestricting Type vs. Binge-Eating/Purging Type Bulimia nervosa o Within a 2-hour period, eating a discrete amount of food that is larger than what most people would eat o Lack of control over eating o Inappropriate compensatory behavior o Purging Type vs. Non-Purging Type Obesity o BMI>30(Overweight=BMI>25) o In U.S. adult obesity rate is 34% (doubles in last 40 years) o Child-teen obesity rate has quadrupled
Physiology of Sex
.
The Sexual Response Cycle (Masters & Johnson, 1966) o Excitement o Plateau o Orgasm o Resolution
Psychology of Sex and Belongingness Hunger and sex are different sorts of motivations o Hunger responds to a need Similarities o Depend on internal physiological factors o Reflect interplay of excitatory and inhibitory responses o Influenced by external and imagined stimuli For most adults, a sexual relationship fulfills not only a biological motive but also a social need for intimacy
"The only thing that really matters in life are your relationship to other people" o -- George Vaillant, 2009, when asked what he had learned from his study following 238 Harvard University men from the 1930s to the end of their lives
Need for affiliation with others is a powerful factor Numerous psychological and social benefits to belonging o Evolutionary roots Connection in the age of social networking/social media
Achievement Motivation
Can you predict future motivation by previous behavior? Is motivation for academic and occupational pursuits defined at a young age?
The Marshmallow Test Marshmallow test illustrates motivation to plan for future and delay gratification
Delayed gratification associated with better SAT scores, higher educational attainment, lower body mass index, and other quality of life measures
Achievement Motivation Achievement motivation is a desire for sig