Introductory Psychology Open Course: Unit 11
Emotion & Motivation
What is an emotion, and how do emotions serve to motivate us and guide our behavior? In this unit we'll look at several theories for how emotions arise and how they are expressed, as well as how we regulate our emotional reactions. Then we'll consider the role of motivation in behavior, from basic drives like hunger and sex, to more complex motivational states. We'll consider how we manage and prioritize these types of motivations, particularly when they conflict with one another.
How can we define emotional states?
Theories for how emotions occur
Can we correctly identify the source of emotional states?
The limbic system and emotional processing
How emotional messages travel in the brain
History of the Frontal Lobotomy
The role of the cortex in regulating emotion & shaping personality
Do emotions have universal expression?
How emotional expression relates to social interaction
What is the purpose of emotional states?
Instincts & Drives as basic motivations
Drive reduction theory as a basis for motivating behavior
Arousal theory, Yerkes-Dodson law, & Flow
How the hunger signal turns on and off
Eating disorders and motivation
Motivation & Obesity
Factors in sexual motivation
The human sexual response cycle identified by Masters & Johnson
Maslow's hierarchy for organizing & prioritizing motivations
Categorizing motivations as intrinsic vs. extrinsic
Delay of gratification and the ironic effects of punishment
Categorizing motivations as conscious/unconscious & approach/avoidance
Applying motivation to goal setting
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