Chapter 10 – Motivation & Emotion

Explain the main ideas of the drive theories, incentive theories and evolutionary theories of
behavior.
 Drive Theories
o Motivation comes from biological needs and internal states
o Homeostasis: tendency for organisms to keep their physiological systems at a
stable, steady level (equilibrium) by constantly adjusting themselves in
response to change
o Imbalances in a system (biological need) lead to a Drive:
 An internal state of tension that motivates an organism to engage in
activities to reduce this tension
o Motivated to Restore Physiological Balance (example)
 Physiological imbalance in hydration results in thirst
 Thirst drives motivates drinking fluids
 Drinking reduces drive  equilibrium restored  behavior stops
 Incentive Theories
o Motivation from something outside of or external to us
o Incentive: an external goal that has the capacity to motivate behaviour
o Engage in behavior to:
 Obtain something positive
 Avoid something negative
o Includes:
 Expectancy of obtaining incentive
 Value of incentive
 Evolutionary Theories
o Evolutionary Psychology
 Argues many behaviors occur instinctively because they promote our
survival/survival of our genes
o Natural selection favors behaviors that result in reproductive success
 i.e., behaviours that lead to reproduction opportunities and success
gets passed to future generations
o Used to explain:
 Affiliation (helping behavior, formation of attachment/relationships)
 Achievements (success – defined culturally)
 Dominance (power & control over others)
 Aggression
 Sex drive/mating behaviours
o Theory to Sex
 Ultimate goal is to achieve reproductive success (genes passed on)
 Robert Triver: theory of parental investment
  The sex that makes the smaller investment in
producing/raising offspring will compete for mating
opportunities with the sex that makes the greater investment
 The sex that makes the greater investment will be more
discriminating in partner selection

Discuss the biological and environmental factors that influence the regulation of hunger and
eating
 Biological Factors
o Brain Regulation
 Several structures & neural circuits in the hypothalamus play a
complex role in regulating eating by monitoring a variety of
physiological processes, including neurotransmitter and hormone
signals of hunger & satiety
o Digestive System
 Nerves in stomach carry information about satiety
 Some (vagus nerve) send info re: stretching of walls, others re:
level of nutrients
 Hormones in Bloodstream
 Ghrelin – is released when we go without eating – causes
stomach contractions; after food is consumed, CCK is released
by upper intestine, sending satiety signals to brain
 Leptin – released from fat calls into the bloodstream
o Signals info about fat stores to the hypothalamus to
regulate eating
 Insulin – secreted by the pancreas
o Must be present for cells to use the glucose in our
blood
 Secretion of insulin  cells absorb glucose 
creates a need for more glucose  hunger
 Environmental Factors

Explain the set-point theory of body weight and discuss how it affects dieter's success (or
lack thereof)

Explain the parental investment theory and discuss what it predicts about male and female
sexual behavior and whether research supports these predictions.

Describe what an achievement motive is and discuss the individual and situational factors
that influence achievement behavior.

Explain the elements of emotional experience - cognitive, physiological, and behavioral.

Summarize research on cross-cultural similarities and differences in emotional expression.

Explain the different theories of emotion.

Summarize research on the factors associated with happiness, including factors that do and
do not predict happiness.