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Psych 101, Motivation and Emotion
For a course based on the book "Psychology in Modules" (paraphrase)
23
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
04/30/2013

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Motivation
Definition

The force that makes people behave, think and feel the way they do.

Every human action has a reason behind it, aware or no.

 

note: if you can understand the true motivation behind a behavior/thought/feeling, you can change it.

Term
Theories of Motivation, Evolutionary Approach
Definition
  • emphasizes the role of basic instincts  in motivation (where instinct is an innate biological pattern and basic means things as simple as drinking water)
  • motivation for sex, aggression, acheivement, and other behaviors are related to evolutionary reasons
Term
Theories of Motivation; Drive Reduction Approach
Definition
  • motivated to reduce tensions in terms of our needs when our drives get too strong
  • drive: an aroused state that occurs because of physiological need
Term

Theories of Motivation; Optimal Arousal Theory

(or Yerkes - Dodson Law)

Definition
  • moderate arousal better than high or low
  • motivated to find balance in arousal levels

 

note: Overlearning is important to this theory; means that a person can learn to do a task so well that they can still perform it in situations of high stress.

 

(meaning that sometimes we wait until the last minute to do something just because we can, because we need that "excitement", for example)

Term
Theories of Motivation; Acheivement Motivation
Definition

3 components:

  1. significant accomplishment
  2. mastery and control
  3. obtaining a high standard

note: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is important to consider; if one doesn't have food, the above issues suddenly aren't so important.

Term
Theories of Motivation; Self Determination Theory
Definition

Argues that there are three basic orgasmic needs:

  1. competance (related to self esteem)
  2. relatedness (needing relationships)
  3. autonomy (in control of own life)

 

every person has a capacity for growth and personal fulfillment.

Term
Intrinsic Motivation
Definition

based on internal factors

engage in behaviors for self, not to please anyone else

Term
Extrinsic Motivation
Definition
based on external incentives such as reward or punishment
Term
Goal Centered Motivation
Definition

How one's values and goals shape behavior

  • self regulation: control behavior to pursue objectives
  • goals must be specific and moderately challenging
  • use both short and long term goals
Term
Emotion
Definition

Feelings that can involve phsyiological arousal, conscious experience and behavioral espression.

 

Closely related to motivation

Term
Biological Aspects of Emotion
Definition
  • activation of sympathetic nervous system: anger, fear, happiness, i.e., arousal
  • the parasympathetic nervous system works to keep our emotions from overwhelming our bodies
Term
James--Lange Theory
Definition
Emotion results from phsyiological states triggered by stimuli in the environment.
Term
Cannon--Bard Theory
Definition
  • emotions and physiological reactions occur simultaneously
  • some emotions can't be associated with physical change
Term
Classifying Emotions: Valence
Definition
Is the emotion pleasant or unpleasant?
Term
Classifying Emotions: Negative Affect
Definition
anger, guilt, sadness, etc.
Term
Classifying Emotions: Positive Affect
Definition
joy, happiness, and interest
Term
Classifying Emotions: Arousal Level
Definition
degree to which the emotion is reflected in an individual as being active, engaged or excited vs. passive, disengaged, or calm
Term

Fear

(and how it's processed in the brain)

Definition

the amygdala plays a central role:

  • detects danger and activates brain resources to protect the person from harm
  • linked with emotional memory
    • explains why fears tend to stick with us
    • seems to be due to the connection to the cerebral cortex
Term
Cognitive Factors in Emotion
Definition
  • physiological arousal
  • cognitive labeling

we interpret external cues and label the emotion

Term
Richard Lazarus
Definition

argued that thinking is primary and cognition is what leads to emotion

(why is someone angry, because they cognitively decided that there is something to be angry about)

Term
Richard Zajonc
Definition

argued emotions are primary and our thoughts are a result of them

 

"preferences need no inferences"

Term
Facial Feedback Hypothesis
Definition

(Smiling will make you feel happier)

 

  • facial muscles send signals to the brain that help us recognize the mood we're in
Term
Resilience
Definition
The ability to bounce back when things do not go well.
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