Motivation & Emotion Class 11 Psychology

Introduction

Motivation has been defined as the process whereby goal‐directed activities are initiated and sustained. In expectancy‐value theory, motivation is a function of the expectation of success and perceived value.

Nature of Motivation

• The study of motivation aims to understand the factors that drive behavior.
• The term 'motivation' is derived from the Latin word 'movere' which means 'to move'.
• Motivation is considered as one of the key factors that influence behavior.
• Instincts, drives, needs, goals, and incentives are some of the key components that fall under the broader category of motivation.

Motivation Cycle

• A lack of some necessity is the definition of a need.
• This need creates a state of arousal called a drive, which energizes us to take action towards achieving our goal.
• Once the goal is achieved, the drive reduces, and the organism achieves a balanced state as its needs are being fulfilled.

Types of Motives

Biological Motives

Hunger

1. Changes in the metabolic functions of the liver lead to a feeling of hunger
2. The liver sends signals to the hypothalamus and the two regions involved in hunger are the Lateral Hypothalamus and Ventromedial Hypothalamus the first region’s stimulation causes hunger and the second region inhibits hunger.

Thirst  

1. Drinking water is necessary to wet a dry mouth and along with dry mouth, it is the body processes within which leads to a feeling of thirst.
2. Motivation to drink water is mainly triggered by conditions such as loss of water from cells, reduction of blood volume and the anterior hypothalamus containing nerve cells called osmoreceptors which generate nerve impulses in case of cell dehydration.

Sex 

1. One of the most powerful drives in the case of animals and human beings is called the sex drive
2. Sexual activity, unlike thirst, hunger is not necessary for the survival of human beings and it develops with age.]

Psychosocial Motives

Social motives: Social motives are mainly learned through interactions with social groups like family, neighbors, friends, and relatives. These motives are complex and shaped by one's social environment. 

• Need for Affiliation: Most individuals seek companionship and relationships with others, avoiding constant solitude. People naturally form groups when they find similarities or mutual likings. Forming connections and relationships is a crucial aspect of human life.  Seeking closeness with others, both physically and mentally, is termed affiliation. This motivation for social contact arises when individuals feel vulnerable, helpless, or content. Those with a high need for affiliation actively seek out the company of others and nurture friendly relations. 
• Need for Power:  Need for power is an ability of a person to produce intended effects on the behaviour and emotions of another person.  The various goals of power motivation are to influence, control, persuade, lead, and charm others and most importantly to enhance one’s own reputation in the eyes of other people.
•   Need for Achievement: Some students work diligently and engage in competition to achieve good marks in exams. Good grades open doors to advanced education and improved job opportunities. This drive for excellence, termed as achievement motivation or n-Ach, stimulates and guides behavior, shaping one's perceptions.
  Development of Achievement Motivation: During their formative years, children develop a sense of achievement motivation. They absorb this drive from various sources like parents, role models, and socio-cultural influences in psychology.  
• Curiosity and Exploration: Often people engage in activities without a clear goal or purpose but they derive some kind of pleasure out of it.  It is a motivational tendency to act without any specific identifiable goal. The tendency to seek for a novel experience, gain pleasure by obtaining information, etc. are signs of curiosity. Hence, curiosity describes behaviour whose primary motive appears to remain in the activities themselves.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• The first level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs comprises of physiological needs which are the basic necessities such as food, water, and warmth that are essential for survival.
• Safety needs, which come under the second level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, include protection from any potential harm or danger. It also includes job security that ensures financial stability.
• Belongingness needs, which are a part of the third level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, involve seeking out positive and meaningful relationships with others, and a sense of companionship.
• Esteem Needs, which are a part of the fourth level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, focus on developing a feeling of self-worth, pride, and accomplishment. This boosts one's self-confidence and self-esteem.
• The fifth and final level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs is self-actualization needs, which primarily focus on realizing one's full potential. A self-actualized person is self-aware, socially responsive, and embraces challenges and difficulties.

Nature of Emotions

• Emotions are feelings and moods experienced by individuals, involving arousal, subjective feelings, and cognitive interpretation.
• Emotions can vary in intensity and quality, with some basic emotions being anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise.

• Different theorists have proposed different sets of basic emotions, with some suggesting up to ten basic emotions.
• Emotions can be influenced by subjective factors such as gender, personality, and psychological disorders, as well as situational contexts.
• Women are generally found to experience emotions more intensely than men, except for anger, which men tend to experience more frequently and intensely.
• Emotions can be mixed and blended to create different emotional states, with some emotions being opposites of each other like joy-sadness and fear-anger.

Expression of Emotions

Sketches of Facial Expressions of Emotions 

Culture and Emotional Expression

• The verbal channel of communication consists of spoken words and vocal features such as pitch and loudness.
• Non-verbal aspects of communication include facial expressions, body movements, and proximity behaviors.
• Facial expressions are the most common channel for emotional communication and can convey intensity and pleasantness/unpleasantness.
• Research supports the idea that facial expressions for basic emotions are innate and universal.
• Body movements, such as those seen in dance, also play a role in expressing emotions.
• Gestures and proximal behaviors are significant in non-verbal communication.
• Cultural differences can influence the expression of emotions and gaze behavior.
• Latin Americans and Southern Europeans tend to direct their gaze to the eyes of the person they are interacting with, while Asians, including Indians and Pakistanis, prefer a peripheral gaze.

Cultural and Emotional Labeling

• Different cultures have varying degrees of elaboration and categorical labels for basic emotions.
• For example, the Tahitian language has 46 labels for the English word "anger", while North American subjects produced 40 different responses for the facial expression of anger and 81 different responses for contempt.
• Japanese participants had varied emotional labels for facial expressions of happiness (10 labels), anger (8 labels), and disgust (6 labels).
• Ancient Chinese literature cites seven emotions (joy, anger, sadness, fear, love, dislike, and liking), while ancient Indian literature identifies eight emotions (love, mirth, energy, wonder, anger, grief, disgust, and fear).
• In Western literature, certain emotions like happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust are considered basic to all humans, while emotions like surprise, contempt, shame, and guilt are not universally accepted as basic.
• Despite cultural and ethnic differences, there are certain basic emotions that are expressed and understood by all.
• Culture plays a significant role in the expression and experience of emotions, as cultural-specific display rules determine the conditions and intensity under which emotions are expressed.

Managing Negative Emotions

To reduce stress and enhance our well-being, it is essential to manage negative emotions effectively. The following are some steps that can help manage negative emotions:

• Enhance self-awareness to understand your own emotions and feelings.
• Objectively appraise situations to determine whether they are disturbing or not.
• Practice self-monitoring to evaluate past accomplishments, emotional states, and experiences.
• Engage in self-modeling by observing and using past successes as motivation.
• Use perceptual reorganization and cognitive restructuring to view events differently and eliminate negative thoughts.
• Find and develop interests or hobbies that bring joy and amusement.
• Choose friends who are happy and cheerful to enhance your own happiness.
• Show empathy and understanding towards others' feelings.
• Develop meaningful relationships and provide mutual support.
• Participate in community service to gain insights about your own difficulties while helping others.

Managing your Anger

• Anger is a negative emotion that causes the mind to lose control of behavioral functions.
• It is primarily caused by frustration of motives and is not a reflex but a result of our thinking.
• Anger is a self-induced choice that individuals make and can be controlled by their own thoughts.
• Key points in anger management include recognizing the power of thoughts, realizing that control lies within oneself, avoiding negative self-talk, not attributing intentions to others, resisting irrational beliefs, finding constructive ways to express anger, looking inward for control, and allowing time and effort for change.

Enhancing Positive Emotions

• Emotions have a purpose and help us adapt and survive.
• Negative emotions like fear, anger, and disgust prepare us for immediate action against threats.
• Excessive or inappropriate use of negative emotions can harm our health and immune system.
• Positive emotions like hope, joy, and gratitude energize us and enhance our emotional well-being.
• Positive emotions increase our ability to cope with adversity and come up with solutions.
• Films that evoke positive emotions lead to more ideas and actions compared to those that evoke anger and fear.
• Ways to enhance positive emotions include having positive personality traits, finding meaning in difficult situations, having supportive relationships, being engaged in work, and having faith.
• Positive interpretations of everyday events contribute to overall well-being.