Theories of Motivation

Lily Scott
10 min read
Study Guide Overview
This AP Psychology study guide covers motivation, including: definitions of motivation, instincts, incentives, and intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation. It explores the overjustification effect, achievement motivation, and self-efficacy. Theories of motivation covered are Instinct, Drive-Reduction, Optimal Arousal (including Yerkes-Dodson Law), and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Finally, it examines types of motivation such as eating, sexual, and social motivations and provides practice questions and exam tips.
AP Psychology: Motivation - Your Ultimate Study Guide ๐
Hey there, future AP Psych pro! This guide is designed to be your go-to resource for all things motivation, especially as you're gearing up for the big exam. Let's dive in and make sure you're feeling confident and ready to ace it! ๐ช
What is Motivation?
Motivation is the force that drives our behaviors. Think of it as the "why" behind everything we do. Whether it's studying for this exam ๐ฏ or grabbing a snack, motivation is at play. It's not just about big goals; it's woven into our everyday actions.
Key Motivational Concepts
- Instincts: These are our innate, unconscious behaviors. They just feel right. It's like a reflex, but for more complex actions.
- Incentives: These are the external factors that pull us toward or push us away from certain behaviors. They can be positive (rewards) or negative (punishments).๐ถ
- Intrinsic Motivation: Doing something for the pure joy of it! Like reading a book because you love to read โค๏ธ๐. It's all about internal satisfaction.
- Extrinsic Motivation: Doing something for an external reward or to avoid punishment. Like reading a book to complete a summer assignment โ๏ธ๐. External factors drive this type of motivation.
Intrinsic motivation is generally stronger and more sustainable than extrinsic motivation.
Image Courtesy of Sites at Penn State.
Think of it this way: Intrinsic motivation is like doing something because you love it, while extrinsic motivation is like doing something for a prize. Overjustification can ruin the fun of intrinsic motivation by adding too many external rewards. Self-efficacy is your belief in your ability to succeed, which can make all the difference!
Theories of Motivation
Let's explore the main theories that explain why we do what we do. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so pay attention to the nuances!
Instinct Theory (Evolutionary)
- Core Idea: Behaviors are driven by our instincts, which are innate and help us survive. This theory is rooted in Charles Darwin's natural selection.
- Focus: Survival and adaptation. We are motivated to do things that ensure we live long enough to pass on our genes. ๐
Example | Strength of Theory ๐ | Weakness of Theory ๐ |
---|---|---|
All babies display innate reflexes like rooting and sucking | Explains similarities due to our ancestral past. | Better at explaining animal behaviors than complex human behaviors. |
Drive-Reduction Theory (Biological)
- Core Idea: We are motivated to reduce internal tension caused by unmet needs. Think of it as a push to maintain balance.
- Push Factors: Motivate us to get away from bad things.
- Pull Factors: Motivate us to work toward good things.
- Homeostasis: The goal is to reach a steady internal state. When we're out of balance, we're motivated to fix it.
Example | Strength of Theory ๐ | Weakness of Theory ๐ |
---|---|---|
When you need food, you become hungry, and then you cook yourself something to make the feeling of hunger go away. | Explains our motivation to reduce arousal by meeting basic needs, like hunger or thirst. | Doesn't explain why some motivated behaviors actually increase arousal. |
Image Courtesy of Myers' AP Psychology Textbook 2nd Edition.
Think of it this way: Drive-reduction is like a thermostat. When it gets too cold (you're hungry), it motivates you to turn up the heat (eat) to restore balance (homeostasis).
Optimal Arousal Theory
- Core Idea: We are motivated to seek an optimal level of stimulation. Sometimes we want to increase arousal because we're bored. It's about finding the sweet spot of excitement.
Example | Strength of Theory ๐ | Weakness of Theory ๐ |
---|---|---|
Being bored and getting yourself into trouble just because you needed to find something to do. Another example is "Curiosity kills the cat" and you just wanna try something new that excites you! | Explains that motivated behavior may increase or decrease arousal. | Doesn't explain our motivation to address our more complex social needs. |
Yerkes-Dodson Law
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Key Point: Moderate arousal leads to optimal performance. Too little or too much arousal can hurt performance.
Remember: The Yerkes-Dodson Law is about the relationship between performance and arousal, not just seeking stimulation like Optimal Arousal Theory. Think of it as a bell curve โ too little or too much arousal leads to poor performance, while moderate arousal leads to peak performance.
Image Courtesy of ResearchGate.
Maslowโs Hierarchy of Needs
- Core Idea: We are motivated to fulfill a hierarchy of needs, starting with basic physiological needs and moving toward self-actualization. It's like climbing a ladder of needs.
- Pyramid Order (bottom to top):
- ๐ง๐ Physiological Needs: Air, food, water (basic survival).
- ๐ Safety Needs: Shelter, security, stability.
- ๐ Belongingness Needs: Love, connection, social relationships.
- ๐ Self-Esteem Needs: Confidence, achievement, respect.
- ๐ Self-Actualization: Reaching your full potential, finding meaning beyond yourself (very rare).
Image Courtesy of Simply Psychology.
Strength of this Theory | Weakness of this Theory |
---|---|
Incorporates the idea that we have levels of various needs. | The order of needs may change depending on the circumstance of the person. |
Remember Maslow's Hierarchy with this: Please Save Big Elephants Soon (Physiological, Safety, Belonging, Esteem, Self-actualization) - it's a bit silly, but it sticks!
Types of Motivations
Eating
- Complex Motivation: Hunger is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
- Brain's Role:
- Lateral Hypothalamus: Activates eating. Think of it as the "start eating" button.
- Ventromedial Hypothalamus: Stops eating. Think of it as the "stop eating" button.
- Damage to either can lead to extreme eating issues ๐.
- Set-Point Theory: The hypothalamus wants to maintain a certain body weight. It adjusts hunger and metabolic rate to do so.
- Garcia Effect: Certain foods can make you more or less hungry based on past experiences. (Think of that bad hot dog experience.)
- Culture and Background: Also play a big role in what and how much we eat.
Sexual Motivation
- Biological and Psychological: Like hunger, sexual motivation has both biological and psychological components.
- Physical Sexual Response Cycle:
- Excitement: Respiration and heart rate increase.
- Plateau: Respiration and heart rate continue at an elevated rate.
- Orgasm: Rhythmic genital contractions, euphoria.
- Resolution: Respiration and heart rate return to normal.
- Psychological Factors: Hormones and erotic material can influence sexual desire.
Social Motivation
- Achievement Motivation: The desire to succeed, challenge yourself, and reach your goals. It's about striving for excellence. ๐
- Not Just Seeking Arousal: It's more about meeting high achievement goals, not just finding stimulation.
Quick Fact: Motivation is not a single thing! It's a mix of internal drives, external incentives, and our own unique experiences.
Final Exam Focus
Okay, let's talk strategy! Here's what you need to focus on for the exam:
- High-Value Topics:
- The different theories of motivation (Instinct, Drive-Reduction, Optimal Arousal, Maslow's Hierarchy) are super important.
- Understanding the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
- The roles of the hypothalamus in hunger and the set-point theory.
- The Yerkes-Dodson Law and its relationship to performance.
- Common Question Types:
- Multiple-choice questions testing your understanding of the different theories and concepts.
- Free-response questions (FRQs) asking you to apply motivational concepts to real-life scenarios or compare and contrast different theories.
- Time Management Tips:
- Read each question carefully and highlight key terms.
- Don't spend too much time on any one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back later.
- For FRQs, plan your answer before you start writing. Outline the main points you want to make.
- Common Pitfalls:
- Confusing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
- Mixing up the different theories of motivation (especially Yerkes-Dodson and Optimal Arousal).
- Not applying concepts to real-life examples in FRQs.
Exam Tip: When answering FRQs, make sure to use specific vocabulary from the unit. This shows the graders that you understand the concepts. Also, always relate your answers back to the question being asked.
Practice Questions
Here are some practice questions to get you warmed up:
Practice Question
Multiple Choice Questions:
-
A student who studies diligently for a test because they enjoy the challenge of learning new material is displaying: (A) Extrinsic motivation (B) Intrinsic motivation (C) Overjustification effect (D) Drive reduction (E) Incentive motivation
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According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, which of the following is true about the relationship between arousal and performance? (A) High arousal always leads to high performance. (B) Low arousal always leads to low performance. (C) Moderate arousal leads to optimal performance. (D) Arousal has no effect on performance. (E) Arousal only affects performance in simple tasks.
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Which of the following is the correct order of needs in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, from most basic to most advanced? (A) Self-actualization, esteem, belongingness, safety, physiological (B) Physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, self-actualization (C) Safety, physiological, belongingness, self-actualization, esteem (D) Belongingness, esteem, physiological, safety, self-actualization (E) Esteem, self-actualization, belongingness, safety, physiological
Free Response Question:
Sarah is a talented musician who initially enjoyed playing the piano for her own pleasure. However, after winning a prestigious music competition, she started receiving numerous offers to perform at paid concerts. While she appreciates the recognition, she finds that she no longer enjoys playing the piano as much as she used to.
(a) Explain how the overjustification effect may be influencing Sarahโs motivation to play the piano. (2 points) (b) Using the concepts of drive-reduction theory and optimal arousal theory, explain how Sarahโs motivation to play the piano could be affected by her current situation. (4 points) (c) Describe how Sarah could use self-efficacy to regain her intrinsic motivation to play the piano. (2 points)
Scoring Breakdown:
(a) Overjustification Effect (2 points):
- 1 point for explaining that the external rewards (paid concerts) have decreased Sarah's intrinsic motivation.
- 1 point for explaining that Sarah now plays more for the external rewards rather than for enjoyment.
(b) Drive-Reduction Theory and Optimal Arousal Theory (4 points):
- 1 point for explaining that drive-reduction theory would suggest Sarah's initial motivation was to reduce the tension of boredom by playing the piano.
- 1 point for explaining that Sarah's current situation may not be reducing any tension, as she is already performing, so she may not be motivated to play.
- 1 point for explaining that optimal arousal theory would suggest that Sarah may be experiencing too much arousal (stress from performances) and that is reducing her enjoyment.
- 1 point for explaining that Sarah may need to find new ways to seek optimal arousal in her piano playing to regain her motivation.
(c) Self-Efficacy (2 points):
- 1 point for explaining that Sarah needs to believe in her ability to enjoy playing the piano again.
- 1 point for explaining that Sarah needs to focus on setting achievable goals and celebrating small successes to build her belief in her ability to enjoy playing again.
You've got this! Remember to take deep breaths, stay focused, and use this guide to your advantage. You're going to do great! ๐

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Question 1 of 19
Motivation is best described as the ๐:
External rewards that drive behavior
Innate, unconscious behaviors we are born with
Force that drives our behaviors and the 'why' behind our actions
The process of reducing internal tension