 | Term | Definition |
| |
motivation |
a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior |
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instinct |
a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned |
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drive-reduction theory |
the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need |
| |
homeostasis |
a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level |
| |
incentive |
a positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior |
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hierarchy of needs |
Maslow's pyramid of human needs, beginning at the base with physiological needs that must first be satisfied before higher-level safety needs and then psychological needs become active |
| |
glucose |
the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for body tissues |
| |
set point |
the point at which an individual's "weight thermostat" is supposedly set; when the body falls below this weight, an increase in hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may act to restore the lost weight |
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basal metabolic rate |
the body's resting rate of energy expenditure |
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sexual response cycle |
the four stages of sexual responding described by Masters and Johnson--excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution |
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refractory period |
a resting period after orgasm, during which a man cannot achieve another orgasm |
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sexual disorder |
a problem that consistently impairs sexual arousal or functioning |
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estrogen |
a sex hormone, secreted in greater amounts by females than by males |
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testosterone |
the most important of the male sex hormones; the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty |
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sexual orientation |
an enduring sexual attraction toward members of either one's own sex (homosexual orientation) or the other sex (heterosexual orientation) |
| |
achievement motivation |
a desire for significant accomplishment: for mastery of things, people, or ideas; for attaining a high standard |
