PSYC 2230 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Low-Density Lipoprotein, Disinhibition, Eye Contact

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2230
• Professor: Pauline Charlton

Document Summary

Motivation an internal state or condition (sometimes described as a need, desire, or want) that serves to activate or energize behavior and give it direction. Potential energy is stored in the body in order to energize behavior. Kinetic energy is released energy that powers behavior. Analogy for motivation: drawn bow: motive and potential energy, target: incentive for archer to shoot arrow. Evolutionary history, millions of years of natural/sexual selection shaped human nature. Law of hedonic contrast: degree of pleasantness of a stimulus. January 15, 2015 genetic contribution to motivation. Consummatory behavior: fixed patterns of responding to specific stimuli. Innate releasing mechanism: like a lock that can be opened by a proper key. Action specific energy: behavior has its own source of energy. Key stimuli: the key that allows the behavior to occur. Social releaser: key stimuli that serve a communication function between species members (i. e. coloration, which indicate sexual readiness) Supernormal key stimuli: oystercatcher"s preference of larger sized eggs, etc.