{"id":4384,"date":"2018-09-21T18:53:14","date_gmt":"2018-09-21T22:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/?p=4384"},"modified":"2018-09-21T19:05:00","modified_gmt":"2018-09-21T23:05:00","slug":"conceptualizing-and-measuring-motivation-and-the-role-of-evolution-in-motivation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/motivation\/conceptualizing-and-measuring-motivation-and-the-role-of-evolution-in-motivation\/","title":{"rendered":"Conceptualizing and Measuring Motivation and the Role of Evolution in Motivation"},"content":{"rendered":"
o One reason why motivation is difficult to study: we can only infer the existence of motivation by observing changes in relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n Activation<\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Activating properties of motivation<\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Motivation is behaviorally activating, but behaviour does not have to be overt <\/strong>o i.e. if animal freezes (no overt behaviour) when seeing predator, there is still motivation i.e. behavioural indexes (hear rate, adrenaline, etc.)<\/strong><\/p>\n options are available i.e. peeking out window, they may opt for this and lever pressing will be less consistent<\/strong><\/p>\n o In multiple-response situations, continued persistence is likely to reflect motivational strength<\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Does not always mean high motivation (as w\/other characteristics) o i.e. in experiment where rats had to press a level w\/certain amount of force to get food, motivation is partly due to learning vs. just vigor<\/p>\n Nomothetic vs. Idiographic<\/strong><\/p>\n Internal vs. External<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Needs<\/strong>: internal sources of motivation that activate and direct behaviour to items in environment that alleviate a state of deprivation o Usually physiological needs i.e. food, but can be social<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Goals<\/strong>: external sources of motivation of goal objects or social relationships o i.e. helping behaviour depends on present people; presence of others = inhibited helping responses<\/p>\n Mechanistic vs. Cognitive<\/p>\n Physiological Analysis<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Concerned w\/brain\u2019s control of motivated states; motivation studied by:<\/p>\n o Shows that brain circuits may be active when reward occurs<\/p>\n Individual Analysis<\/p>\n o i.e. Bandura experiment showed some motivated behaviours are learned through observation, such as aggression<\/p>\n Social Analysis<\/p>\n Philosophical Analysis<\/p>\n Energy<\/p>\n o General<\/strong>: one source of energy exists for all behaviour; or o Specific<\/strong>: each behaviour has its own energy source i.e. water-directed behaviour would occur during thirst<\/p>\n Physiological mechanisms<\/p>\n Learning<\/p>\n Social Interaction<\/p>\n Cognitive Processes<\/p>\n The Activation of Motivation<\/p>\n Homeostasis<\/strong><\/p>\n Hedonism<\/strong><\/p>\n Growth Motivation <\/strong><\/p>\n Philosophical Antecedents<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Aristotle proposed 2 important ideas:<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nature-nurture controversy<\/strong>: acquisition of behaviour through experience vs.<\/p>\n heredity (nature) o Aristotle\u2019s theory suggests nurture (experience) o Today it is believed behaviour is combo of both<\/p>\n (nanometers) to perception of colour (i.e. green)<\/p>\n (complex) motives learned through association of more basic ones<\/p>\n Physiological Antecedents<\/p>\n o Localization of function<\/strong> within various areas of brain<\/p>\n (2) Godlike metaphor: humans were created by God in image of God<\/p>\n Life<\/p>\n o Organisms that do not replicate themselves make intellectual decision (vs. biological decision) <\/strong>Mitosis and Meiosis<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reproduction occurs through<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Characteristics of Motivation<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
The Study of Motivation: Categories of Analysis<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Levels of Analysis (know all)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Major Constructs in Motivation<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Philosophical and Physiological Roots of Motivational Theory<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
The Flow of Ideas about Motivation<\/h2>\n
\n
Evolution and Motivation<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n