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Theories of Motivation
Motivation is the general term for the biological, emotion, cognitive, and social processes involved in starting,
directing, and maintaining behavior.
Motivation is a need or desire that __________________ behavior and ____________ it towards a goal.
Human behavior includes a wide range of motives and drives. No single comprehensive theory of motivation can
explain the enormous __________________ of human behavior. As a result, psychologists have developed several
theories of motivation.
• Instinct Theory
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Instincts are ___________________ behaviors that have ________________ _______________
throughout different species and are not learned.
___________________ display a number of fixed action patterns – bird migrations, mating
rituals, and dominance displays
Inspired by Charles ______________________; led by ________________________________
Listed scores of ____________ instincts including modestly, cleanliness, rivalry, and parental love
Fell out of favor because it lacked the ability to _____________ explain human motivation
• Drive Reduction Theory
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Replaced instinct theory during the ____________
The idea that a physiological need creates an _____________________ __________________
state (a drive) that motivates an organism to ______________________ the need.
Based on the biological concept of _________________________ (“standing still”).
 The body seeks to maintain a _______________ internal state, such as constant internal
temperature and fluid levels.
The body creates a state of tension, known as a “_____________,” if any of its needs are unmet.
Still used to explain motivated behaviors that have a clear_____________________ basis
 Cannot account for _____________ human behaviors like buying habits, donating to
charity, or participating in an extreme sport.
* INCENTIVES *
Where there is both a need and an
incentive (positive or negative
________________that motivates
behavior), we feel
__________________ driven.
A food-deprived person (need) who
smells baking bread (incentive) feels
a strong hunger drive.
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• Arousal Theory
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Humans (and other animals) are innately
__________________ and seek out
complexity and novelty.
When other needs are met, young
monkeys and children are known to
_________________ the environment in
the absence of a need-based drive.
Yerkes-Dodson Law: An
__________________ level of
psychological arousal _____________
performances. When arousal is too low, our
minds wander and we become _________.
When arousal is too high, we become too
__________________ and “freeze-up”.
People are thus motivated to seek a
________________ level of stimulation that is
neither too easy nor too difficult.
More recently, we have learned that optimal
arousal level depends on the __________,
with more difficult tasks requiring lower
arousal for best performance.
• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
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Abraham Maslow created a hierarchy of needs that combines and __________________
biological, psychological, and social needs.
Maslow identified a progression of five needs. According to Maslow, people begin with basic
______________________ and ___________________ needs. Once these needs are met, the
individual “moves up” to ______________________ needs culminating with self-actualization.
It has been criticized for
its ______________
definition of selfactualization. In addition,
it is possible for people
living in poverty to
nonetheless develop
strong social ties and selfesteem.
YOU WILL DEFINITELY
NEED TO KNOW THE
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
MASLOW’S
HIERARCHY!!!
Near the end of his life,
Maslow proposed that some
people also reach a level of
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___________________________ where people strive for meaning, purpose, and communion
that is _______________ the self, that is transpersonal.