Motivation, Emotion, and Stress PDF

Preview

Summary

Motivation, Emotion, and Stress...

Description

Motivation, Emotion, and Stress Vocabulary Motivation: a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior toward a goal. Drive Reduction Theory: The idea that a physiological need creates a state of tension ( a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need.

Primary and Secondary Drives ● Primary drives: unlearned drives (like hunger) that are based on a physiological state ○ Vital to survival of the individual or species ○ Thirst drive, hunger drive, sex drive ● Secondary drives: learned drives, such as ambition, that are not based on a physiological state. ○ No one is born with the drive to get wealthy, but many are motivated by money.

Physiology of Hunger ● Glucose: form of sugar circulating body; major source of energy; when low=feel hungry. ● Insulin: hormone allows your cells to use glucose for energy or to convert it to fat. When insulin levels go up, glucose levels go down. ● Leptin: protein produced by bloated fat cells, when sends a “stop eating” message. ● Orexin: hunger-triggering hormone produced by hypothalamus; when glucose levels drop, orexin levels rise= feel hungry (ghrelin does something similar)

Biological explanations The Yerkes-Dodson Law: The theory that a degree of psychological arousal helps performance, but only to a point

Sensation Seekers ● Arousal theory: Theory of motivation that proposes that organisms seek an optimal level of arousal ● Optimal level of arousal varies from person to person Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Clinical Explanations Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1970)

Affiliation ● The need to be with others ● In times of stress or confusion we turn to each other ● Human beings are incredibly social- we need bonds to survive ○ Oxytocin (“cuddle hormone”) and dopamine are released during times of stress which prompts us to bond.

Important Motives ● Exploration and curiosity ○ Linked to creativity ● Manipulation and Contact ○ Harry Harlow & baby rhesus monkeys

Aggression ● Behavior aimed at doing harm to others; also, the motive to behave aggressively ○ Key: intent ● What motivates people to act aggressively? ○ Innate drive ○ ○ ○ ○

Defense behaviors characteristic of ancestors Learned and modeled Culture Gender ■ Biological or social? ■ High levels of testosterone are linked with aggressiveness ■ Society also clearly tolerates “boys being boys”

Achievement Motivation ● Concept established by Henry Murray (1893-1988) ● A desire for significant accomplishment; for mastery of things, people, or ideas; and for attaining a high standard ● Achievement motivation varies...why? Why are some people more motivated to reach their goals than others? What is the difference between high achievers and not-so-high achievers?

Module 27 Emotion The Effects of Stress Stress: The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging. Health Psychology: A subfield of psychology that focuses on how stress affects well-being and health. ● How are stress and illness related? ● How do our perceptions of stress affect our health? ● Can we control our reactions to stress? ● What behaviors/attitudes help prevent health problems?

Stress and Disease: Cancer Researchers have looked (but not found) connections between stress and cancer ● WWII Concentration camp survivors- have not shown higher-than-normal cancer rates ● Workplace stress and colon cancer (those with a history of it were 5x more likely to develop cancer) 1. Stress does not appear to create cancer cells, but 2. It weakens the body’s ability to fight them

Type A and Type B Type A: A term for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbal aggressive, and anger prone people Type B: a term for easygoing, relaxed people Figured out based on a mid-1950s study by Friedman on the link between Heart Disease and stress

Stress and Heart Disease Friedman (1950s) ● Men are more likely to experience heart disease ○ Not due to sex differences ○ Due to stress ○ Measured blood-clotting speed and cholesterol levels in accountants in the months leading up to April 15 ■ Skyrocketed ■ In May, back to normal

Responding to Stress Stress is inevitable! ● Release of stress hormones into the nervous system

○ Heart rate increases, dulls your sensation of pain, sends blood to larger muscles (prepare you) ○ Whether in response to a “pop quiz” that you feel unprepared for or a physically stressful condition like extreme cold (Walter Cannon) ● How we respond is key!

Stress in America

Hans Selye: General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three phases (predictable and recurring) ● Phase 1 Alarm- nervous system activated (emotional or physical trauma) ● Phase 2 Resistance (outpouring of stress related hormones (cortisol, adrenaline,) - but body is not designed to sustain prolonged stress) ○ Prolonged stress- shrinking of hippocampus ● Phase 3 Exhaustion (Body’s reserves become depleted- greater susceptibility to illness)

A little bit of stress is a good thing! ● Kicks your immune system into gear ● Helps you heal faster/fight off infection ● Motivates you to do well or, to at least do something Three types of stress 1. Daily stress a. Locker jammed, lab partner doesn’t show up, you forgot your homework b. Daily work life & burnout c. These things can add up and wear you down 2. Significant Life changes

a. Death of a loved one, divorce, leaving home 3. Catastrophes a. 9/11, a school shooting, hurricanes i. 17% increase in depression b. Psychological and physical risks Effects of Perceived Control ● Learned helplessness ● Locus of control ○ External or internal ● Optimism/Pessimism ○ Pessimism and being out of control leads to the production and release of stress hormones...