PSYCH101 Lecture 7: Lecture 7 Lecture 7 notes

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH101
• Professor: Richard Ennis

Document Summary

Motivation is the theories used to explain the motion of humans. We are not as predictable as say, the theory of gravity. If it were possible to predict a person"s actions even 30% of the time, the theory discovered would be highly impressive: motivation is an inferred variable. It is used to infer a psychological state which has gone to explain the behaviour of an individual. Why: the quantity of energy used in the behaviour is one of the determining factors that help to identify the underlying motive, i. e. : intensity/arousal, persistence, choices. Mechanistic model: applies to any living organism. Instinctive behaviour; we do not choose to do these things, we did not learn them, we are born with this behavioural response built in. Drives responses from within : i. e. : infant sucking response, fight or flight response, instinctive attachment (imprinting), needs are a hydraulic model.