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Psychology

Unit 8

Motivation and Emotion

6 topics · 24 practice questions · Free responseNot yet reviewed

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Notes

Motivation

  • Theories: instinct, drive-reduction (needs create drives; goal is homeostasis), arousal (Yerkes-Dodson: moderate arousal is best), incentive and self-determination.
  • Intrinsic motivation comes from within; extrinsic from rewards or punishments.
  • Maslow's hierarchy: physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, self-actualization.

Emotion

  • James-Lange: body reaction first, then emotion. Cannon-Bard: both at once. Schachter-Singer: arousal plus a cognitive label.
  • Facial expressions of basic emotions are similar across cultures; display rules vary.

Stress and coping

  • Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome: alarm, resistance, exhaustion. Stress depends on appraisal; eustress is positive, distress is negative.
  • Problem-focused coping targets the stressor; emotion-focused coping manages feelings. Exercise, sleep, social support and time management help.

Topics in this unit

Each topic has its own short notes and practice.

Practice

Maria studies more after earning praise from her teacher. Her studying is being strengthened by which kind of motivation?
A student skips lunch and sleeps poorly, then cannot focus on class. Maslow's hierarchy would say that unmet _____ needs get in the way.
Tyrell sees a bear on a trail, his heart races, and he then realizes he is afraid because he noticed his racing heart. This best matches the:
A runner has long-lasting stress for months. Her body starts to get sick often and feels worn out. In Selye's model this is the:
Which is an example of problem-focused coping?
According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, a very hard task is usually performed best with:

Free response

Write your answer first, then open the scoring guide.

Free-response question

Kayla has a big chemistry test on Friday. On Wednesday her heart pounds when she thinks about it and she cannot sleep. She makes a study schedule, goes for a run each afternoon and talks to a friend about her worries.

(a) Identify which stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome she is most likely in on Wednesday and explain why.

Show the answer and scoring guide

Alarm or resistance; her body is aroused (pounding heart) in response to the stressor, preparing to deal with it. Either stage is accepted if explained.

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(b) Give one example of problem-focused coping and one example of emotion-focused coping from the scenario.

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Problem-focused: making the study schedule. Emotion-focused: talking to a friend or going for a run to manage feelings.

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(c) Use the Schachter-Singer theory to explain how Kayla might interpret her racing heart.

Show the answer and scoring guide

Her arousal (racing heart) plus a cognitive label ("I'm anxious about the test") produces the emotion of worry. If she relabeled it as being ready, she might feel excited instead.

Check off the points you earned:

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