PSYC 362 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Reward System, Mental Model, Opportunity Cost
13 Dec 2018
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Document Summary
A desire to expand, inherently pleasurable and motivating, may be unconscious. People are more attracted to to others. Who are perceived as offering opportunities for expanding the self. Potential expansion is toward one"s ideal self: falling in love . Rapid self-expansion motivational state: intense desire for union with the loved one dopamine reward system. Also offset physical pain, craving for tobacco. Similar to intense love in long-term pairings. Still manifest when subjects are still in love with someone who has rejected them: shared novel and challenging activities. Decline in opportunities for self-expansion over time. Bc know each other too well, heard stories, disclosures. Coast on positive associations for a time, but then impact of lack of self-expansion. Possibility of boredom, habituation, too little uncertainty. Engage in exciting activities (vs pleasant) restore energy increases relationship satisfaction, less boredom, positive affect increased relationship quality. Greater activation in reward areas, eg globus pallidus, inferior occipital gyrus.
