NEUROSC M101C Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Psychoactive Drug, Homeostasis, Classical Conditioning
Document Summary
Motivation = what determines our movements or actions. Process that gives behavior its energy and direction - the gas and the steering wheel. Motivation is not volition or free will. If we know all the variables (life experiences and brain wiring) we should be able to predict person"s behavior. Theoretical concept used to explain why people/animals engage in a particular behavior at a particular time. We want to understand people"s motivations so that we can predict their behaviors and use that information for our own purposes. To understand variability in behaviors (both within and between individuals) Within an individual, the individual may be very motivated to study for an exam, but when the individual is hungry, he or she may seek food. Under different circumstances, motivations may be quite different. Under the same circumstances, two individuals may behave in very different ways => different individuals may respond in very different ways, which may differ in adaptability.
