PSY 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Belongingness, Homeostasis, Human Behavior
30 Mar 2017
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What is motivation - a need or desire that energizes behavior and directs it toward a goal. Different perspectives: instinct theory (evolutionary perspective, drive-reduction theory, arousal theory, instinct theory. Instinct: a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned. What are the genetic contributions to motivation: drive reduction theory. Homeostasis: a state of internal physiological equilibrium that the body strives to maintain. Physiological disruptions to homeostasis produce drives (states of internal tension) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need. Need (e. g. for food, water) > drive (hunger, thirst) > drive- Example: hull (1943) - reducing drives is the ultimate goal of motivated behavior. Motivation in absence of physiological need: arousal theory. We are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal (a certain state of emotional, intellectual, and physical activity) The level of arousal considered optimal varies from person to person.
