Emotion and Motivation
What makes us behave as we do? What drives us to eat? What drives us toward sex? Is there a biological basis to explain the feelings we experience? How universal are emotions?
In this chapter, we will explore issues relating to both motivation and emotion. We will begin with a discussion of several theories that have been proposed to explain motivation and why we engage in a given behavior. You will learn about the physiological needs that drive some human behaviors, as well as the importance of our social experiences in influencing our actions.
Next, we will consider both eating and having sex as examples of motivated behaviors. What are the physiological mechanisms of hunger and satiety? What understanding do scientists have of why obesity occurs, and what treatments exist for obesity and eating disorders? How do psychologists understand and study the human experience of sexual orientation and gender identity? These questions—and more—will be explored.
This chapter will close with a discussion of emotion. You will learn about several theories that have been proposed to explain how emotion occurs, the biological underpinnings of emotion, and the universality of emotions.
MCCCD Course Competencies
- Interpret research finding related to psychological concepts.
- Apply psychological principles to personal growth and other aspects of everyday life.
- Examine how psychological science can be used to counter unsubstantiated statements and foster critical thinking.
- Explain basic psychological concepts in each of these key domains: Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, Social and Personality, and Mental and Physical Health.
- Identify ways psychological science can foster a more just society.
- Examine how social and cultural factors, diversity, ethics, and variations in human functioning relate to basic psychological concepts.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
- Define intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
- Understand that instincts, drive reduction, self-efficacy, and social motives have all been proposed as theories of motivation
- Explain the basic concepts associated with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Why do we do the things we do? What motivations underlie our behaviors? Motivation describes the wants or needs that direct behavior toward a goal. In addition to biological motives, motivations can be intrinsic (arising from internal factors) or extrinsic (arising from external factors). Intrinsically motivated behaviors are performed because of the sense of personal satisfaction that they bring, while extrinsically motivated behaviors are performed in order to receive something from others.
Think about why you are currently in college. Are you here because you enjoy learning and want to pursue an education to make yourself a more well-rounded individual? If so, then you are intrinsically motivated. However, if you are here because you want to get a college degree to make yourself more marketa