Taneil Thompson
SLK110
CHAPTER 10 NOTES
Please note that these notes have been sourced
from Wayne Weiten’s Psychology: Themes and
Variations. I do not take credit for the information
in this document.
Goodluck! J
Taneil Thompson
University of Pretoria, 2020
, Taneil Thompson
Psychology- SLK110
Chapter 10
*Please note that I have worked directly from the module outcomes as well
as the module textbook*
1. Compare biological, incentive and evolutionary approaches to
understanding motivation.
Biological Approach Evolutionary
Approach
We do things because the behaviour is built Motivations have evolved
into us over time through
natural selection which
favours a behaviour that
increases the chance of
reproductive success
-This looks at a
behaviour and analyses
how it would have
benefitted hunter-
gatherer ancestors.
some behaviours are built into the organism Incentive Approach
and are part of their genes. However this was An external goal that has
discredited as it was hard to decide what was the capacity to motivate
an instinct and what wasn’t. furthermore, the behaviour. This
complexity of human behaviour and the downplays the biological
lifelong learning process defied this theory. bases of human
Drives- a hypothetical, internal state of tension motivation.
that motivates an organism to engage in -here external
activities that should reduce this tension. environments shape our
Walter Cannon stated that organisms aim to motivations and
maintain homeostasis (the tendency of many behaviour where as with
biological systems to strive towards a state of drive theories, biology
physiological equilibrium or stability) and Clark motivates us internally.
L. Hull built on this. An unpleasant state of -these are though of as
tension is viewed as a disruption which leads to pull (towards what you
a drive to pursue an action that leads to a want) and drive theories
drive reduction. are push (toward
homeostasis)
SLK110
CHAPTER 10 NOTES
Please note that these notes have been sourced
from Wayne Weiten’s Psychology: Themes and
Variations. I do not take credit for the information
in this document.
Goodluck! J
Taneil Thompson
University of Pretoria, 2020
, Taneil Thompson
Psychology- SLK110
Chapter 10
*Please note that I have worked directly from the module outcomes as well
as the module textbook*
1. Compare biological, incentive and evolutionary approaches to
understanding motivation.
Biological Approach Evolutionary
Approach
We do things because the behaviour is built Motivations have evolved
into us over time through
natural selection which
favours a behaviour that
increases the chance of
reproductive success
-This looks at a
behaviour and analyses
how it would have
benefitted hunter-
gatherer ancestors.
some behaviours are built into the organism Incentive Approach
and are part of their genes. However this was An external goal that has
discredited as it was hard to decide what was the capacity to motivate
an instinct and what wasn’t. furthermore, the behaviour. This
complexity of human behaviour and the downplays the biological
lifelong learning process defied this theory. bases of human
Drives- a hypothetical, internal state of tension motivation.
that motivates an organism to engage in -here external
activities that should reduce this tension. environments shape our
Walter Cannon stated that organisms aim to motivations and
maintain homeostasis (the tendency of many behaviour where as with
biological systems to strive towards a state of drive theories, biology
physiological equilibrium or stability) and Clark motivates us internally.
L. Hull built on this. An unpleasant state of -these are though of as
tension is viewed as a disruption which leads to pull (towards what you
a drive to pursue an action that leads to a want) and drive theories
drive reduction. are push (toward
homeostasis)
