PSY426H1 Lecture : Lewin .odt
Document Summary
People have a tendency to approach positive stimuli, or avoid negative stimuli. Avoidance goals are problematic in all levels of the behavioural hierarchy because it impedes learning and exploration, and should be regulated on lower levels. Avoidance goals are for survival, while approach goals are for thriving. Desriable/undesireable: stimuli may representat concrete obserbale objects. Or abstract interannaly generalyed represents of objects, events etc. If degree of success or failure depends on difference between goal and achievement; success should follow easy and completed tasks, and failure on veruy difficult ones. Ease and difficulty level are on an infinite scale, but small finite region for possible achievements, i. e. upper limit to achievement. Success occurs only if chance of failure exists and vice versa. So aspiration level not simple function of hedonics (easy tasks for easy pleasure) Can keep aspiration level down to fear of failure and tendency to raise it.
