PSYC 2230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Fixed Action Pattern, Behavioral Activation, Cognitive Dissonance

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2230
• Professor: Frank Marchese

Document Summary

Motivation is the concept we use when we describe the forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct behaviour. Use motivation to explain differences in intensity of behaviour. More intense behaviours are considered to be higher motivated. Use motivation to indicate persistence of behaviour. Motivation helps to explain why behaviour occurs in one situation but not in others. Manipulate a stimulus (s) and measure behaviour in the form of response (r) Motivation can be inferred from the change in behaviour that occurred, and an indication of its strength can be observed. Intervening variable is a concept that serves to link a stimulus and a response and helps to relate the two. Performance variable is the temporary nature of motivation. When enough motivation is present, behaviour is performed; when motivation is too low, behaviour is absent. Easily seen in the production of behaviour.