Unit 6 Project What really motivates you?
I hope you will you see, in the day-to-day flow
of our class, my intense desire to demonstrate the
relevance of psychology in your life. This isn’t
the kind of material that should remain within
the “classroom” walls, but rather it can inform
and enlighten well beyond these concrete
barriers. To this effect, it would be a shame to
leave this unit with its explanatory power
untouched and unused.
We defined motives as specific needs or wants
that both arouse and then direct a person toward
a specific goal. Drive-Reduction Theory does a
great job explaining what biologically motivates
us for drives such as hunger, thirst and sex. Yet,
even these most basic of motives, are heavily
influenced by our cognitive processes,
environmental cues, and social context. Assignment: You are to use the theories/motives below to explain the motivations behind meaningful
behaviors in your life. You will create a Presentation (PowerPoint) with words and images that
encapsulate the behaviors you do that are explained by each of the theories/motivations below.
Please note that ‘meaningful’ is highlighted for a reason. The assignment would be mere busywork if it only
served to explain: why you wore jeans instead of shorts yesterday, that you ate Fruit Loops instead of Fruity
Pebbles this morning, or that you want to go to Florida because you’re cold right now.
Theories: Arousal Theory –
o Yerkes Dodson Law Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Intrinsic Motives – really helpful projects will identify long term intrinsic motivations that can keep you
motivated throughout the year.
Social-motives Aggression (Must include a Freudian interpretation of your aggression, the role of frustration, and why
you do or do not fall into your gender’s typical aggression level.) Achievement (Must include differentiation of the three aspects of achievement-oriented behavior, and
comment on the existence and effects of your competitiveness) Affiliation
