motivational concepts

• motivations: a need or desire that energizes and directs a behavior
• instinct/ evolutionary perspective: focuses on genetically predisposed behaviors
• drive- reduction theory: how inner pushes and external pulls react
• arousal theory: finding the right level of stimulation
• hierarchy of needs: how some of our needs take priority over others
• intensity: greater vigor of responding that usually accompanies motivated behavior
• persistence: continued efforts to achieve a particular goal
• activation: in initiation or production of behavior
• instinct: a complex behavior must have a fixed pattern throughout the species and to be unlearned
• incentives: a positive or negative stimuli that lure or repel us
• optimal arousal theory: some motivated behaviors increase arousal; certain tasks require certain levels of arousal
• Yerkes- Dodson Law: principle that performance increases with arousal until a certain point, beyond that performance decreases
• hierarchy of needs: physiological needs, safety needs, acceptance and belonging, self- esteem needs, self- actualization, self- transcendent