desire to obtain learned reinforcers like money and social acceptance
Olds and Milner experiment
found instinct, arousal, and opponent process theories when they found rats would self-stimulate themselves with electric shocks
Instinct theory
learning of species-specific behavior motivates organisms to do what is necessary to unsure survival
Arousal theory
an optimum level of arousal, of alertness and activation, at which performance on a task is optimal
Yerkes-Dodson law
tasks of moderate difficulty elicit the highest level of performance
opponent process theory
All emotions are subject to a subsequent, opposite reaction. each time we experience fear in a given situation, the repetition of that emotion becomes gradually desensitized and we feel less fear.
Drive reduction theory
much of the motivation we experience is a result of our bodies trying to maintain homeostasis
set-point
traget body temperature
lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus
they send messages to brain to control body weight
hypothalamus
an area controlling feeding
glucostatic hypothesis
brain tries to make sure there is enough glucose since it is the primary fuel for most organs
Lipostatic hypothesis
fat is measured and controlled substance in the baby that regulates hunger
Anorexia nervosa
individual being 15% below ideal body weight
Body dysmorphia
distorted body image
Bulimia nervosa
alternating periods of binging and purging
Lateral hypothalamus
responsible for drinking/thirst
androgens
primary sexual hormones in males
estrogens
primary sexual hormones in females
Biological theory
Behavior is pre-programmed and biologically determined