Motivation
Theories about Motivation
1. Instincts are inborn forces that direct behavior.
2. Drives are uncomfortable biological states that motivate behavior.
3. Arousal - motivation is the desire to maintain optimal levels of arousal in our body
4. Incentives guide us to seek rewards.
Each theory has its weaknesses and strengths.
Motivation as instincts
This theory is influenced by Darwin and his natural selection theory. William James proposed that motives are genetically determined instincts that evolved in humans to support survival and procreation, and also impulses from within that directed or motivated our behavior. This idea fell out of favor because James's list of proposed instincts was expanding longer and longer, and it was impossible to determine if instincts were inborn or a result of learning.
Motivation as a drive
According to the drive reduction theory, Motivation is the result of a desire to reduce an uncomfortable internal state. This state, also known as a drive, helps to create a drive state in the body. This drive state ensures the motivation to meet the biological needs of the body, ensuring survival. Primary drives such as needing food and water and warmth motivate us to maintain our bodily processes at an internal equilibrium, also called homeostasis. Drives begin when the brain recognizes the lacking in a certain biological need based on the feedback from the body. The negative feedback loop, a type of feedback system, is a collection of information systems in the body that monitor the level of bodily processes and adjust them accordingly when they deviate from the ideal level.
However, this theory may not explain the motivation behind some of the behaviours not related to survival. Drive reduction theorists developed the theory of secondary drives. They are developed through learning and experience, and differ from individual to individual.
This theory has its shortcomings. It cannot explain some of our other biological needs for example, overeating, or the refusal to eat, in the case of anorexia nervosa. It also doesn't account for the instances when we increase tension or arousal levels in the body. It does not appear to reduce our primary drives.
Arousal theories of motivation
The arousal theory states that everyone has a optimal level of physiological arousal that we perform best. Too much or too little could weaken performance. We are motivated to seek out arousal when we are underaroused (bored) and seek to reduce arousal levels when we are overaroused (anxiety). Some people, who are sensation seekers, habitually seek out high levels of physiological arousal, preferring to engage in intensely stimulating experiences, like sky diving. These people tend to have a low level of monoamine oxidase, which breaks down neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Dopamine seems to be key in motivating us to obtain rewards. Thus, these people have a higher level of dopamine activity as the dopamine is not broken down and remains in the synapse longer, stimulating the neuron. This could be related to their motivation to experience intense arousal.
Incentive theories of motivation
Incentives motivate us into action. They may be certain goals or desires one wishes to fulfil or satisfy. They could be intrinsic - internal feelings we experience upon achievement, such as pride or enjoyment. Or, they could be extrinsic, achieving it will give us rewards like medals, or money.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Maslow recognized some motives that had greater influence on our behavior than others. He theorized that we seek to satisfy more basic needs before being motivated to fulfil others. There isn't much evidence to support this theory, and sometimes we behave contradictory to this hierarchy of needs that states we fulfil lower order needs first. Despite lack of evidence, however, this theory is used and applied in the business field.
Hunger
The homeostatic regulation of hunger motivates us to eat. The body seeks to maintain a set point in weight.
Hunger feedback comes from many points in the body. One point is the stomach. When the stomach is empty, the walls contract, stimulating hunger. It releases a hormone known as ghrelin which sends strong hunger signals to the brain. A full, distended stomach sends feedback to the brain as well, to tell us to stop eating. However, people who have had their stomachs removed due to cancer still feel hunger. Therefore, there has to be other sources of hunger feedback.
Another point where hunger feedback is sent to the brain is the liver. it monitors the level of glycogen and glucose in our system. Glucose is the sugar our bodies burn as fuel, and glycogen is the form of starch that excess glucose is converted into. The liver detects the deviation in the ideal levels of these two chemicals and sends signals to the brain to shut off or initiate hunger.
Hormones could be another reason. The endocrine system can send hunger feedback as well. Insulin can release feelings of hunger. The small intestine releases the hormone cholecystokinin which appears to curb hunger.
Fat cells produce and secrete leptin, releasing it into the bloodstream which travels to the brain and are picked up by receptors near the ventricles and the hypothalamus. This process is thought to inform th brain of fat levels in the body . If a high level of fat is detected, the brain sends signals to decrease hunger.
The brain, specifically the hypothalamus, has special glucoreceptors that are sensitive to blood glucose levels, receiving signals from the liver and the stomach. The lateral hypothalamus seems to be the on-switch for hunger. If destroyed, it causes loss of appetite, which leads to loss of weight until starvation to death. However, it is not the only component of the brain that controls hunger, as the person who has lost this part of the brain can still be force fed and some of the appetite can be regained. Neuropeptide Y is the most powerful hunger stimulant known outside of the LH. the ventromedial hypothalamus also plays a role in shutting off hunger by creating a feeling of satiety. If destroyed, a person would begin to eat uncontrollably and gain weight tremendously. Also, the endocrine system's release of insulin is affected, and there is an increase in release of insulin, increases frequency in eating due to increase in hunger.
Conclusion: hunger is regulated by a complex network of feedback systems.
Other factors that influence eating
Intuitive eating, which motivated by physiological feedback, is different from eating motivated by emotional or situational cues. It has little relation to energy requirements, in terms of providing fuel. It could be triggered by the sight or smell of food. It is related to the cultural connection of food and celebration or joy.
CONCLUSION
Eating is the most fundamental motivation, ensuring our survival. Even if we fight it, it remains strong. It affects many other psychological issues such as obesity, bulimia nervosa (binge eating, and then engaging in compensatory behavior aimed at preventing weight gain), anorexia nervosa (the disturbed perception of one's own weight or denial of the seriousness of their low weight, and the undue influence of their body weight on their self-evaluation), and binge-eating.
1. Instincts are inborn forces that direct behavior.
2. Drives are uncomfortable biological states that motivate behavior.
3. Arousal - motivation is the desire to maintain optimal levels of arousal in our body
4. Incentives guide us to seek rewards.
Each theory has its weaknesses and strengths.
Motivation as instincts
This theory is influenced by Darwin and his natural selection theory. William James proposed that motives are genetically determined instincts that evolved in humans to support survival and procreation, and also impulses from within that directed or motivated our behavior. This idea fell out of favor because James's list of proposed instincts was expanding longer and longer, and it was impossible to determine if instincts were inborn or a result of learning.
Motivation as a drive
According to the drive reduction theory, Motivation is the result of a desire to reduce an uncomfortable internal state. This state, also known as a drive, helps to create a drive state in the body. This drive state ensures the motivation to meet the biological needs of the body, ensuring survival. Primary drives such as needing food and water and warmth motivate us to maintain our bodily processes at an internal equilibrium, also called homeostasis. Drives begin when the brain recognizes the lacking in a certain biological need based on the feedback from the body. The negative feedback loop, a type of feedback system, is a collection of information systems in the body that monitor the level of bodily processes and adjust them accordingly when they deviate from the ideal level.
However, this theory may not explain the motivation behind some of the behaviours not related to survival. Drive reduction theorists developed the theory of secondary drives. They are developed through learning and experience, and differ from individual to individual.
This theory has its shortcomings. It cannot explain some of our other biological needs for example, overeating, or the refusal to eat, in the case of anorexia nervosa. It also doesn't account for the instances when we increase tension or arousal levels in the body. It does not appear to reduce our primary drives.
Arousal theories of motivation
The arousal theory states that everyone has a optimal level of physiological arousal that we perform best. Too much or too little could weaken performance. We are motivated to seek out arousal when we are underaroused (bored) and seek to reduce arousal levels when we are overaroused (anxiety). Some people, who are sensation seekers, habitually seek out high levels of physiological arousal, preferring to engage in intensely stimulating experiences, like sky diving. These people tend to have a low level of monoamine oxidase, which breaks down neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Dopamine seems to be key in motivating us to obtain rewards. Thus, these people have a higher level of dopamine activity as the dopamine is not broken down and remains in the synapse longer, stimulating the neuron. This could be related to their motivation to experience intense arousal.
Incentive theories of motivation
Incentives motivate us into action. They may be certain goals or desires one wishes to fulfil or satisfy. They could be intrinsic - internal feelings we experience upon achievement, such as pride or enjoyment. Or, they could be extrinsic, achieving it will give us rewards like medals, or money.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Maslow recognized some motives that had greater influence on our behavior than others. He theorized that we seek to satisfy more basic needs before being motivated to fulfil others. There isn't much evidence to support this theory, and sometimes we behave contradictory to this hierarchy of needs that states we fulfil lower order needs first. Despite lack of evidence, however, this theory is used and applied in the business field.
Hunger
The homeostatic regulation of hunger motivates us to eat. The body seeks to maintain a set point in weight.
Hunger feedback comes from many points in the body. One point is the stomach. When the stomach is empty, the walls contract, stimulating hunger. It releases a hormone known as ghrelin which sends strong hunger signals to the brain. A full, distended stomach sends feedback to the brain as well, to tell us to stop eating. However, people who have had their stomachs removed due to cancer still feel hunger. Therefore, there has to be other sources of hunger feedback.
Another point where hunger feedback is sent to the brain is the liver. it monitors the level of glycogen and glucose in our system. Glucose is the sugar our bodies burn as fuel, and glycogen is the form of starch that excess glucose is converted into. The liver detects the deviation in the ideal levels of these two chemicals and sends signals to the brain to shut off or initiate hunger.
Hormones could be another reason. The endocrine system can send hunger feedback as well. Insulin can release feelings of hunger. The small intestine releases the hormone cholecystokinin which appears to curb hunger.
Fat cells produce and secrete leptin, releasing it into the bloodstream which travels to the brain and are picked up by receptors near the ventricles and the hypothalamus. This process is thought to inform th brain of fat levels in the body . If a high level of fat is detected, the brain sends signals to decrease hunger.
The brain, specifically the hypothalamus, has special glucoreceptors that are sensitive to blood glucose levels, receiving signals from the liver and the stomach. The lateral hypothalamus seems to be the on-switch for hunger. If destroyed, it causes loss of appetite, which leads to loss of weight until starvation to death. However, it is not the only component of the brain that controls hunger, as the person who has lost this part of the brain can still be force fed and some of the appetite can be regained. Neuropeptide Y is the most powerful hunger stimulant known outside of the LH. the ventromedial hypothalamus also plays a role in shutting off hunger by creating a feeling of satiety. If destroyed, a person would begin to eat uncontrollably and gain weight tremendously. Also, the endocrine system's release of insulin is affected, and there is an increase in release of insulin, increases frequency in eating due to increase in hunger.
Conclusion: hunger is regulated by a complex network of feedback systems.
Other factors that influence eating
Intuitive eating, which motivated by physiological feedback, is different from eating motivated by emotional or situational cues. It has little relation to energy requirements, in terms of providing fuel. It could be triggered by the sight or smell of food. It is related to the cultural connection of food and celebration or joy.
CONCLUSION
Eating is the most fundamental motivation, ensuring our survival. Even if we fight it, it remains strong. It affects many other psychological issues such as obesity, bulimia nervosa (binge eating, and then engaging in compensatory behavior aimed at preventing weight gain), anorexia nervosa (the disturbed perception of one's own weight or denial of the seriousness of their low weight, and the undue influence of their body weight on their self-evaluation), and binge-eating.