Motivation and EmotionChapter 6

Dustin StevensonSylvie Langbehn

Cory Brown

Definitions

• Motivation – Generally thought of as the study of the directional and energizing aspects of behavior

• Emotion – Defined by its effective tone. Either positive or negative, never neutral.

Summary

• Emotion causes motivation• Motives and emotions are

evolutionary adaptations− JUST LIKE OUR OPPOSABLE THUMBS!

• Motivation and emotions are all equally biological, but not equally important.

Summary

• Motives are influenced by learning but are primarily biological.

• Ekmans five basic emotions: anger, disgust, fear, happiness and sadness.• There are most likely many more.

• An angry face is more easily detected than a happy one.

Summary

• We cannot be happy all the time.• Social emotions evolved to

motivate social behaviors.• Self esteem is our perceived status

in the community.

Summary

• Testosterone • ROCKS!• Influences dominant and aggressive

behavior in men.

• Violence• Does NOT rock!

From the book…

• “In summary, an evolutionary approach illuminates how emotion and motivation help us solve the many problems of survival and reproduction that existed in the EEA”

Major Points!

• 1.) Motivation and emotion are indelibly connected.

• 2.) All motives and emotions are primarily biological.

• 3.) It is in the best interest of ones genes to easily detect anger.

Weak Points in Text

• 1.) The case of instinct • 2.) Recalibration of emotion

Quiz Time!

And the Winner is…

2 4

3 5 5

“Why Men, Not Women, Start Wars”• Men go for quantity while women strive

for quality.• Women don’t endanger lives to risk

neglecting offspring.• Men need to demonstrate genetic

fitness.

FIN