PSY 201 Lecture 5: Psychology 201
Document Summary
Motivation: a process that energizes, guides, and maintains behavior toward a goal. Four essential qualities of motivational states: energizing or stimulating, directive, help animals persist, strength varies. Drive reduction theory- cycle of needs, drives, and drive-reducing behaviors. Need- a state of biological or social deficiency; disruption in homeostasis. Drive- a psychological state that motivates an organism to satisfy a need. Drive-reducing behaviors- behaviors that alleviate a drive state. Maslow"s need theory- basic survival needs must be met before achieving higher-order goals. Problems with maslow"s theory no empirical evidence and many examples contradict the hierarchy. Yerkes- dodson law- influence of arousal on task performance. A moderate level of arousal helps improve performance. External objects or goals that motivate behaviors; not driven by needs. Intrinsic- guided by pure value and enjoyment of the activity (fueled by happy feelings, genuinely fulfilled) Rewarding people for engaging in an intrinsic activity gives them an alternate explanation for engaging in it.
