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Chapter#06 Page: 1 to 6

Motivation

* Definition * Motivation cycle * Characteristics of motivated behavior * Classification of

motives * Physiological mechanism of hunger *Differences between physiological and social
motives

Definition:
The word motivation derived from the word “motive” meaning to move. Motivation
arises from deprivation, need. When need is aroused, organisms show some particular
behavior to meet the need. E.g. when an organism feels hunger, he looks for food, takes
it and satisfies his hunger drive.
As a process motivation works in the following way:

Deprivation Need Motivated Goal

Behavior

Satisfaction

Crider et.al (1983) say:

Motivation can be defined as-
“the desires, needs and interest that arouse or activate an organism
and direct it toward a specific goal”.
So, motivation gives answer to “why” aspect of behavior.
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Motivation Cycle: Analyzing the definition of motivation, we get four stages of it.
These stages move in cyclic order- a) Deprivation, b) Need/force, c) Motivated behavior,
d) Goal.

a.
d. Goal Deprivation/
need

c. Motivated b.
behavior Drive/force

Need/Deprivation: Need is aroused from some deprivation. It may be physiological or

social. E.g. hunger and recognition. It may also be aroused by some hormone secretion,
e.g. prolactin for maternal drive.
Drive/Force: From deprivation in the first stage, it takes the form of drive or force to
meet the need. In the first stage, the organism feels-“I don’t have”, in the second stage it
becomes-“I want”.
Motivated Behavior: At this stage, the force takes the form of activity. Now, the
organism shows particular behavior (related to his deprivation). If he is hungry, he shows
food searching behavior.
Goal: Behavior in the third stage is directed toward a goal i.e. he becomes satisfied then.
If huger is deprivation (1st stage), need for food is the drive ( 2nd stage). Then the
organism looks for food ( 3rd stage) and finally, he becomes satisfied ( 4th stage).
These stages come repeatedly in a person’s life in cyclic order.

Characteristics of motivated behavior:

Question arises which behavior is motivated and which is not? To get the answer, we
will see the particular behavior that is aroused by some deprivation and drive has few
characteristics that differentiates behavior as motivated and not motivated.
1. Motivated behavior is internally aroused: Whatever is the cause (physiological
or social), it comes from within the person.
2. Motivated behavior is selective: The behavior that an organism shows is related
to the drive. e.g. looking for water when one is thirsty.
3. Motivated behavior is relatively permanent: Motivated behavior continues
unless and until the goal is reached. Stronger the need, attempts are more strong.
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4. Motivated behavior maintains homeostasis: Arousal of need means breaking of
homeostasis. Motivated behavior attempts to bring the homeostasis back.
5. Motivated behavior is goal directed: End of motivated behavior is getting the
object and feel satisfied. His activity level comes down with the attainment of
goal object.

Classification of Motives: Different psychologists classified motivation into different

categories. Thomas (1923) categorized motivation into four types. Henry Murrey (1938)
said about twenty types. Abraham Maslow (1970) said about eight main categories of
motivation. But most of the psychologists categorized motivation into two types. These
are biological and social.
Motivation

Biological Social
Hunger Fame
Thirst Affiliation
Sex Security
Maternal Social approval

Achievement motivation

Aggressiveness

Need for domination

Here only hunger as a physiological/biological motive will be discussed broadly.

Hunger: (it's physiological mechanism)

Generally, it is known that stomach constriction is an indicator of hunger (Canon,

1938). But, later on it was found through records that stomach constriction is not related
to hunger.

Mouth also plays a small role in satisfaction. Researchers cut the tube leading from the
mouth to the stomach. The organism ate more food than normal eventually they stopped
eating ( Janowitz and Grossman, 1949).

Though both stomach and mouth play some role in the regulation of hunger, but they do
not give the explanation of why we start or stop eating. Recent evidence shows that a
previously unsuspected organ the liver is very important in signaling hunger. When time
passes after last meal, liver perform important function of converting stored nutrients
into forms that the body and brain can use. The liver also monitors blood sugar level and
the rate at which they drop.
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Research shows that when the liver sense a low blood sugar level, its signals the brain.
This signal activate the behavior necessary for eating.

Recent research indicates that the brain may be able to sense low sugar level
directly. Even if the nerves connecting the liver and brain were cut (i.e. cutting of signals
from the liver to the brain) animal would still eat when their blood sugar level
dropped. That means in addition to receiving signals from the liver, brain can also detect
blood sugar level by monitoring its own blood supply.

The brain receive information about nutrient label both directly from its own blood
supply and indirectly from liver. But the question arises how brain use these signals to
control eating? Research shows that a single anatomical area named hypothalamus
controls eating. Two areas in hypothalamus are identified as important in eating. These
are:

1. LH- Lateral hypothalamus

2. VMH- Ventromedial hypothalamus

LH is the outside area and

VMH is the lower middle area. LH is the "start eating" center and VMH is the "stop
eating" center. Functions of LH and VMH is just reverse. If lesion or extirpation is
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made in VMH, the organism eats 3x ( three times) more than the normal feeding.
Lesion in LH, stops the organism from eating.

It can be said that the LH and VMH receives information about the nutrient levels in the
body and then they act together to control eating.

Summary chart of the functions of LH and VMH is given below:

Part of hypothalamus Stimulation Lesion/extirpation

LH Starts eating Stop eating though hungry

----------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------------

Starts eating three times more

VMH Stops eating
than normal

In summary the most widely acceptable theory of why organism eat holds that the liver
monitors the amount of stored nutrients in the body. When these bodily nutrients
become too low, the liver signals the brain. Though the hypothalamus and related
structures, the brain then controls the onset and cessation of eating.

Differences between biological and social motives:

Biological motives: Needs whose satisfaction is essential for the survival of the
organism is known as biological motive. They are also called primary motives e.g.
hunger, thirst etc. These are innate not learned.

Social motives: needs those arise from social environment, culture are called social
motive. These are learned. From around the person, social needs are created, it forces
the person to show some activity that will satisfy his social need e.g. need for
recognition, status etc.

Arousal cause is different but the force comes from within the person for the
satisfaction of both biological and social needs.

Differences:

1. Biological motive is created from the physical need e.g. deprivation of food or water
leads to hunger or thirst motive. But social motive is created from environment e.g.
need for status is created from the environment where the person lives.
2. All the organism of same species have the same biological motive. It is common to
all. But social motive is unique. It varies from person to person.
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3. Satisfaction of biological motive is essential for survival. But satisfaction of social
motive may be necessary, not essential.
4. Biological motives are innate but social motives are learned.
5. Satisfaction of biological motives maintain homeostasis. But social motives are not
related to homeostasis.
6. Biological motives sometimes arise from the very beginning of life (like hunger,
thirst ) and sometimes with increase in age (like sex, maternal drive). But arousal of
social motive depends on the intellectual development.
7. Biological motives are limited in number. But social motives are many in number.
8. Arousal of biological motives needs immediate satisfaction. But satisfaction of social
motive may take a long time.

With many differences, both biological and social motives are important in an
individual’s life.

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