Motivation and Emotion - AP Psychology

Intrinsic motivation is defined as motivation to complete a behavior because it is internally satisfying to the person. On the contrary, extrinstic motivation is defined as motivation to complete a behavior to acquire extrinsic rewards (for example, money, food, or elevation of status).

Maslow's hierarchy of needs ranges from physiological needs (at the bottom of the pyramid) to self-actualization needs (at the top of the pyramid). Self-actualization involves achieving one's unique potential, and is much more spiritually oriented than the lower levels.

Intrinsic motivation involves internal motivating factors that keep us focused on completing a task. This does not include external rewards, like a piece of candy or a bonus at work. Thus, studying for the pure sake of learning is an example of intrinsic motivation.

Marie is faced with two undesirable outcomes: riding a ride she does not like or inviting the mockery of her friends. Marie would prefer to avoid both of these outcomes, thus she faces an avoidance-avoidance conflict.

Psychoanalysts use both of these projective tests in the attempt to access a patient's unconscious mind. The idea behind their use is the possibility that what sense the patient makes of an inkblot or the story they create behind an ambiguous picture will reveal hidden emotions, conflicts, or desires that have been troubling him/her without his/her direct knowledge.

Aptitude tests are used to determine an individual's underlying capacity or talent at a task; aptitudes can be mental or physical. Intelligence tests are used strictly in an attempt to measure mental acuity. Achievement tests are used to test both skill and aptitude. Morality tests are used to assess individuals' response to specific, moral situations.

Intrinsic motivation is when someone completes an action because the action itself is an enjoyable process. This contrasts with external motivation, where an action is completed in order to gain external reward or avoid a negative external consequence. If I'm painting a landscape because I need money and someone will buy my painting, I may enjoy painting it, but this will have been an externally motivated behavior. If I engage in an action like reading, drawing, or the like, because it is pleasurable and there is no expectation of reward, this is intrinsically motivated.

A primary drive is a drive that is completely unlearned, something that any human will inherit regardless of their socialization, upbringing, or background. Primary drives are concerned with survival and reproduction. These drives for humans are hunger, sex, thirst, sleep, and bathroom needs. All of these ensure the health, maintenance, and reproduction of the human species.

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the need for esteem is the need to achieve goals for approval and recognition in our community. The need for esteem also includes self-esteem and self-approval. The need for esteem is separated into higher and lower level needs, lower being the need to be approved of by others, higher being self-esteem and approval.

The correct answer here is homeostasis, a internally balanced state in which our needs, and the drives created by those needs, are satisfied. When one is experiencing needs and drives, one is out of homeostasis.

William Masters and Virginia Johnson noted in their study on the sexual response cycle that sexual desire can be present even if one does not have the ability to have sex anymore.

The Set Point Theory is the theory that the hypothalamus wants to maintain a certain ideal body weight. Once we reach that set point, our metabolism kicks in to burn off the excess food.

Intrinsic motivation refers to doing something because of an internal reward, such as genuinely finding an activity fun, doing something because “it makes me feel good,” etc. Outside, tangible rewards for doing the activity are not really taken into account when deciding whether or not to do it. Extrinsic motivation refers to doing something because of an external reward, such as earning money so you can buy a new computer, joining an after-school activity to boost your college application, etc. As a result, all of the answers provided refer to extrinsic motivations, except for an interest in the material. Reading about psychology essentially “just for fun” is the only choice that reflects an internal reward for reading the textbook.

Parker's lethargic attitude and unwillingness to participate in school are most indicative of "depression." His personality has not been affected, but more so his mood and his outlook. His lack of energy is not a sign of mania and his intact personality rules out disassociate identity disorder and post traumatic stress disorder.

While primary drives are directly related to basic survival and reproduction, secondary drives are related to social factors. Money is not directly related to basic survival, but it can aid in quelling primary drives (for example, using money to buy food to reduce hunger).

The id operates on the pleasure principle and seeks immediate gratification. The id satisfies drives, developed from physiological needs such as hunger, thirst, sexual drives, and more. The id, unlike the ego or superego, contains no morality or judgment of value. Rather, it seeks immediate pleasure or avoidance of pain, and disregards long-term consequences and benefits.

Proposed by Abraham Maslow, the hierarchy of needs theory states that the most important physiological needs must be met before other, less urgent needs are met. These essential needs consist of oxygen, food, water, and shelter. After physiological needs are met, one will seek to fulfill the need for safety and security (personal, physical, and financial), belongingness and love (friendship, intimacy, and family), then self esteem (earned respect), self actualization (reaching one’s highest potential), and then self transcendence (finding a greater, spiritual purpose in life). According to Maslow, very few people reach a level of self transcendence.

The amygdala is a key brain structure in the limbic system. Those who experience brain damage in this area have difficulty developing conditioned fear responses.

Drive reduction theory is based on the idea that human behavior is motivated by various drives. This behavior is undertaken in hopes of reducing the state of tension these drives create. The most basic of examples would be that when people are hungry they experience the distress of hunger and are motivated to look for food. A more nuanced example might be humans' drives to connect with romantic partners. If humans seek connection and don't find it with one partner, they may look for it in another person.

Extrinsic motivation is a pervasive force behind many of our daily behaviors. Most people don't go to work because it's intrinsically pleasurable, but because they need something. In essence, extrinsic is when someone does something for something else. We go to school to avoid punishment and get approval from our teachers, parents, and peers. We work to get money to pay the bills to avoid being broke and to make our families happy and comfortable.

The reverse is doing something for its intrinsic pleasure, known as intrinsic motivation. For instance we may enjoy knowing more about the world for the pleasure it gives us, not what we have to gain from it.

Emotions are a product of evolution designed to signal when humans need or want something or when a certain need or want has been met. Emotions are universal, as they can be observed cross-culturally, though the degree of expression of emotion may vary in different cultures.