The physiological approach to motivation

Instinct theory Physiological drives The structure of the nervous system Homeostatic drive theory Temperature regulation

Instinct Theory
Darwins theory of evolution as set out in The Origin of Species (Darwin, 1859) We are born with instincts, which push us towards certain forms of behaviour The most basic of these behaviour is the instinct to survive : this will prevail at all costs, without it we would not survive All behaviour can be seen therefore in the light of this basic overriding concern: sex, eating, drinking, sleeping etc

Instinct Theory (a critical approach)

A very important and influential theory Whilst instincts do help us to understand basic/early motivated behaviours, they do not help us to understand the more complex human activities, like art and culture In order to understand these activities we need to develop more instincts than just those that are directly related to survival A number of behaviours separate us from animals We use in an offensive way phrases to suggest that our behaviour as humans should be different from animals We are anxious to separate our behaviour from animals behaviour: civilization is an attempt of this kind (Norbert Elias)

We say
crying like a baby Humans may be dominated by their instincts in their early years, but these instincts are either socialised out of us or we are taught, as adults, to hide them better than children are able to do

How many instincts?

Try to create your own list of

Biological Instincts

Psychological instincts

Counting instincts
William James (1890) first attempted to do this He tried to relate instincts directly to their evolutionary past studying his own children He suggested that humans are more strongly influenced by instincts because we are influenced by psychological as well as biological ones McDougall (1908) developed a list of 12 instincts (they were basic and made little reference to specifically psychosocial motives so further lists were needed McClelland (1961) used the same kind of basic instincts but added further ones that were related to certain needs e.g. the need for achievement and the need of affiliation Lists of this short caused more problems than they solved. Under this vew, instincts doesnt explain motivated behaviour, as they have become little more then just meaningless labels However: around 15.000 instincts have been identified over the yearsand there are probably as many that havent been labelled yet

Physiological Drives
A possible biological alternative to the notion of instincts A long history in psychology, not confined to purely biological theories As an explanation of the biological basis of behaviour, drives take us into the cellular and neurochemical areas of physiology A drive is determined by certain tissue needs It is satisfied through the activation of brain receptors leading to the release of hormones Hunger, thirst, temperature regulation and sex Require an understanding of central and autonomic nervous system operations, which maintain normal functioning through homeostatic regulation of the endocrine system

The structure of the nervous system

Made up of billions of cells called neurons, which have the ability to transmit electrical impulses. In this way each neuron is able to pass messages to and from the brain The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS), which is the master control system for all actions and reactions in the body It is connected to the rest of the body through the peripheral nervous system (PNS) , which consists of nerves that extend from the spinal cord to all parts of the body Each nerve is made up of a collection of neurons

The brain contains a number of areas that are believed to be directly responsible for certain forms of behaviour

The raphe nuclei and the reticular formation both involved in arousal The hypothalamus involved in homeostatic regulation The cerebral cortex controls higher cognitive functioning The limbic system involved in emotional control

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A branch of the PNS directly involved in the maintenance of a stable internal state homeostasis Transmits information to the organs, glands and smooth muscles involved in the regulation of the internal environment of the body Particularly important in the control of motivational behaviours, such as eating and drinking and emotional behaviours such as fight or flight

The 2 branches of ANS

The sympathetic and the para-sympathetic Each keep a separate role but controls the functioning of parts of the system to achieve stability They are stimulated by sections of the brain They have a direct effect on all the major organs (e.g. the heart will be made to beat faster in order to speed up the supply of oxygen

Endocrine System
Whilst the ANS involves a speedy an automatic messenger system for homeostatic activity The endocrine system is much slower Involves responses stimulated by messengers in the blood stream hormones The release of hormones is controlled by the hypothalamus Hormones are released from various glands in the body, through the activation of the pituitary gland

These systems are basic for the physiological explanation of motivated behaviours related to instincts and drives, which push the organism towards certain forms of behaviour in order to maintain normal homeostatic functioning

Homeostatic drive theory

Cannon (1929) first put forward the idea that homeostatic drives (the need to maintain a constant level of physiological functioning) determine our behaviour In order to function normally our bodies have certain physiological needs that must be fulfilled: food, drink, sleep, warmth, shelter etc When these needs have not been satisfied, physiological mechanisms are activated and motivate us to restore balance The bodys tendency to maintain a state of balance is called homeostasis (like a kind of thermostat in a central heating system)

Homeostatic drive theory

It is a regulatory process: involves responses that occur due to changes in the internal/external environment Some of these responses are automatic they do not require us to do anything in order to restore balance e.g. when temperature rises, sweating will occur as a normal reaction of the ANS Some changes require behavioural responses e.g. when temperature drops we might rub our hands together to keep warm Other times is about both automatic and behavioural responses e.g. removing an item of clothing and sweating

Basic features of homeostasis

A set point identifies the ideal range for each component of the homeostatic mechanism Each component has to have a detector to monitor the set-point maintenance A correctional mechanism make alterations when the detectors register a significant deviation from the set point The prospective element in homeostasis help all animals to anticipate future changes that are likely to occur

Temperature Regulation
Set point : we must try and maintain our core body temperature at a relatively constant 37o C Detector: Hypothalamus is involved in homeostasis and its area that is responsible for this detection is the preoptic area Control mechanism: if the preoptic area becomes cold, it stimulates the sympathetic branch of the ANS that stimulates the blood vessels to constrict and prevent the flow of warm blood to the surface of the ski where it would be cooled.