PSYCH 2GG3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Cortisol
Lecture 11 – motivation in the classroom
- There exists numerous kinds of personality traits, who seek out different challenges
o But challenges cannot be so challenging that you cannot achieve it
- If challenge is low but skill is high:
o likely to get really bored
- If challenge is high but skill is low:
o can lead to stress and anxiety
- If challenge low and skill low:
o indifference
- Where you reach the element of flow:
o When the challenge is high, but there is also a sense of ‘yes I can do it’ (skill is
high)
o A sense of capability
From a physiological perspective: looking at the HPA axis
- HPA secretes hormones
o Such as cortisol: which is a stress hormone
- When in a state of stress: cortisol released
- But: cortisol not just released when we are in a state of stress
- Levels of C higher in morning than in the evening: because it motivizes and energies
your system to get your body to get moving
- Just because HPA axis is active (i.e. cortisol is present) is not a bad sign
- Shows that if we have a middle level of HPA, this is where flow occurs
o Not all stress is bad:
o no stress = not motivated
o high stress = feeling of giving up
Motivation in the classroom:
Responding to Students’ competence needs:
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
There exists numerous kinds of personality traits, who seek out different challenges: but challenges cannot be so challenging that you cannot achieve it. If challenge is low but skill is high: likely to get really bored. If challenge is high but skill is low: can lead to stress and anxiety. Where you reach the element of flow: when the challenge is high, but there is also a sense of yes i can do it" (skill is high, a sense of capability. From a physiological perspective: looking at the hpa axis. Hpa secretes hormones: such as cortisol: which is a stress hormone. When in a state of stress: cortisol released. But: cortisol not just released when we are in a state of stress. Levels of c higher in morning than in the evening: because it motivizes and energies your system to get your body to get moving.
