1 Definition and Phenomena Change behavior from current state to something else A motive initiates behavior and gives it a direction a goal Motivation provides a bridge between physiology and psychology Maslow s Hierarchy of Needs pyramid of needs ranging from physiological needs to self fulfillment needs Physiological safety love or belongingness esteem selfactualization Move up pyramid as lower needs are satisfied 2 A Basic Model for Motivation a Thermoregulation means maintain the body temperature Homeostasis Our internal physiological balance of temperature water content food etc A homeostatic control process is any system that works actively to maintain homeostasis Temperature regulation maintaining 98 degree F Temperature is a basic motive Deviations from an internal ideal temperature the set point initiate behavior Physiological behavior Psychological physical behavior Basic Model of Thermoregulation Many motivated behaviors can be explained with a feedback model thermostat continue sampling the environment always updating Questions 1 What initiates these behaviors 2 Where is the set point located Hypothalamus is involved in many motivated behaviors Hypothalamus 4 Fs fighting fleeing feeding mating Internal Thermostat Thermoreceptors neurons that respond to temperature Magoun experiment 1938 hot cat response to heating warmed a cat s hypothalamus cat acted as if it were hot Cold Rat Study Rats in a cold environment will learn to press a lever to turn on a heat lamp Cooling the hypothalamus leads to the same psychological behavior Fever Body temperature is above normal but the set point also changed Hypothalamus can affect psychological behavior b Feeding and hunger Feeding Dual Center Theory Hypothalamus has two centers similar to set point model of thermoregulation Hunger center Satiety full center lesion to lateral hypothalamus Rat doesn t eat hunger center lesion to ventromedial hypothalamus Rat overeats satiety center but the fat rat doesn t keep eating It eventually maintains its weight Another View Lateral Hypothalamus x set point drops below the Nutrients the rat will think it s doing fine Set Point Nutrients Calories Ventromedial Hypothalamus x set point rise above the Nutrients in order to balance the rat will consume more food Summary 1 Lateral hypothalamus raises set point when lesioned it can t raise set point so set point is low 2 Ventromedial hypothalamus lowers set point when lesioned it can t lower set point so set point is high