PSYC 2230 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Hedonic Tone, Sensory Deprivation, Maternal Deprivation

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2230
• Professor: Frank Marchese

Document Summary

Hedonism the seeking of pleasure and avoidance of pain. Hedonic theories emphasize the idea that cues or stimuli have motivational properties because they have become associated with positive or negative experiences. Hobbes believed that all actions are motivated by the desire to obtain pleasures and avoid pain. Spencer proposed that pleasurable behaviours have survival value for an organism; pleasurable behaviours were adaptive over the history of species. Troland believed that the ns is especially tuned to pleasurable and aversive events; divided stimulation into. Troland believed that sensations can be classified in one of these 3 categories; hedonic value is closely tied to sensory qualities. Beebe-center suggested that pleasantness and unpleasantness exist as opposite extremes on a hedonic continuum. Somewhere in between lies a neutral zone where stimuli are neither pleasant or unpleasant. Pleasant and unpleasant sensations depend on the way in which the sense organs react to stimulation. Reaction of sense organs in one manner (bright pressure) produce pleasant feelings.