PSYCO104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Drive Theory, Motivation, Sexual Differentiation

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCO104
• Professor: Matthew Russell

Document Summary

Motivation is a process that influences the direction, persistence, and vigor of our goal directed behaviours. We have a balance point that the body tends to maintain, called homeostasis. Disruptions to homeostasis, drives us to try to find balance. This perspective suggests that we are motivated based on our incentives, things that pull us towards a goal. Extrinsic: for external reward or to avoid punishment. The humanistic perspective states that we strive for personal growth. We need to fulfill basic needs first. Example: hierarchy of needs and the classroom. Better school performance, better health, less aggression. Drive theory is commonly used to explain hunger. Various signals tells us we are hungry. Signals brain to decrease appetite and increase energy and expenditure. Women overestimate how thin they need to be. Men overestimate how muscular they need to be. Eating customs affect how much you eat. 40-70% of variation in body mass is genetic.