PSYC 4750 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Edward Thorndike, Jeremy Bentham, Ancient Greek

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 4750
• Professor: Erin Rock

Document Summary

A historical view of motivation study helps us consider: How the subject of motivation came to prominence. Applying theory to behavior: material cause refers to role of brain in behavior (eg brain hypothalamus triggers hunger) Pursue pleasure and avoid pain (decrease unhappiness or pain, increase happiness or pleasure) For ancient greek phil socrates, democritus and empicurus hedonism meant pleasure to exceed pain over the long run. Touched on affective forecasting and cognitive motivation motivation can result from anticipated consequences things are beneficial if they increase happiness or decrease unhappiness (utility principle) Pleasure principle: pursue pleasure, felt as sudden decrease in tension (pleasure results from decreasing tension and un-pleasure results when tension increases) Reality principle: circumstances determine when to attain pleasure or postpone pleasure and endure discomfort if the result is greater pleasure later. Law of effect: satisfying consequences strengthen behavior (benefit life) and painful/dissatisfying consequences weaken behaviour (prevent behavior that destroys life)