Motivation Practice

[jonathan]

For a little extra practice...
Apply two motivational theories we have learned in this unit to my 7
year old son
Jacob's various activities. You may not use duplicate another
person's
post, i.e. you cannot apply the same theory to the same activity.
This
assignment is worth 5 points.

Activity....Reason

Math - Good at it, likes the challenge
Chinese - Many people speak it, useful to talk to and help people
Soccer - Good at it, likes the challenge, exercise
Hockey - Friends
Scrabble - Learning Vocabulary
Eating - Need to, taste, all you can eat, trying different foods
Science - studying things, learning about animals

[Elizabeth McTighe]

Hull's drive reduction theory applies to eating. He feels he needs to
eat because his body (liver and brain) signals that he is hungry. To
reduce this drive he then eats something. Maslow's hierarchy of needs
applies to his academic interests. Once his base-level needs (like
hunger) are satisfied, he can focus on higher-level cognitive needs
like learning about animals.

[Ryan Cassidy]

According to the arousal theory of motivation, Clark L. Hull theorized
that organisms seek an optimal level of arousal that is essentially
zero. Thus, people’s motives seem to often be directed at reducing
some internal state of bodily tension. Jacob perhaps could have a
curiosity in animals and wonder about certain aspects that are
mysterious or intriguing to him about these different organisms. In
turn, his lack of knowledge about such things will drive him to find a
way to study and examine certain animals to increase his understanding
about them and ultimately alleviate his previous curiosity and
dissatisfaction of knowing very little about animals.

Also, according to the dual center theory, the control of feeding is
located in the antagonistic hunger and satiety centers in the
hypothalamus. Thus, the effects of certain lesions in the brain cause
an individual to exhibit a complete refusal to eating or an increase
in the amount of food consumed. In the case of Jacob, his act of
eating is a biological necessity and a primary motive as it is
imperative to his survival as an organism. Also, the “go” center in
the lateral region of his hypothalamus contributes greatly to his
physiological need to consume based on the levels of glucose in his
blood, while the hormone CCK acts as a “stop eating” message to his
brain and will cause him to reduce his intake.

On Dec 8, 5:55 pm, jonathan <jsimon...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Luisa Lange]

According to Henry Murray's theory of primary and secondary motives,
Jacob's motivation to play sports is not necessary for survival. Jacob
plays hockey because he wants to be with his friends. This would be
considered a secondary motive.
According to David McClelland, people with high acievement will take
the harder option when they feel the desired outcome is attainable.
This relates to Jacob's motivation to study math. Becuase Jacob is
good at math, we could assume that he has high achievement in this
area. Therefore he enjoys challanging himself to improve his math
skills, because by challenging himself, he feels that he can improve
(an attainable goal).

[Alexander Golob]

According to Julian Rotter's locus of control theory, Jacob might have
a high internal locus of control because he is intrinsically motivated
to learn science. His reason to learn science is not to be with
friends, get a good grade, or have some sort of reward, rather, he
does it for reasons of self improvement. According to Henry Murray's
theory of primary and secondary needs, Jacob may play soccer for
secondary needs of achievement and exhibition. This can be seen in
how he "likes the challenge" and likes to be "good at it (playing
soccer)".

On Dec 8, 5:55 pm, jonathan <jsimon...@gmail.com> wrote:

[reed westerman]

Many of Jacobs responses and motivations are due to or critical for
survival. Many of Murray's secondary motives come into place then. He
could play hockey because he likes to play, but the most likely
secondary motive is that he seeks affiliation. This means that he is
seeking a friends and by playing hockey he is given a team to bond
with.
According to John Atkinson, an individual gains more satisfaction from
accomplishing a task that requires higher difficulty and skill. Jacobs
passion for soccer can be attributed to this because he has strong
skills (since he's good at it) and it takes hard work and is difficult
to become good at soccer. This may be where the satisfaction from
playing comes from.

On Dec 8, 5:55 pm, jonathan <jsimon...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Jacquelin Randhawa]

Bernard Weiner's Attribution Theory assumes that people try to
interpret an event or behavior in which they achieve. Factors that
affect attribution are ability, task difficulty, and effort.
Therefore, with skills and practice, a person gains more satisfaction.
One reason why Jacob enjoys playing soccer is because he likes the
challenge. Since he gains internal satisfaction, his motivation can be
categorized as intrinsic.

Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs states that the most basic levels
of needs must be met before the individual will strive for higher
level of needs. According to a pyramid used to represent an
individual's needs, the most basic needs are at the bottom. Jacob's
fondness for eating is categorized in "physiological" whereas why he
likes math is in "self-actualization." Since physiological is the
bottom most level of the pyramid, Jacob would have to fulfill this
need before he moved on to math which is at the top.

On Dec 8, 5:55 pm, jonathan <jsimon...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Holly Wiberg]

Jacob's interest in hockey and Chinese represent "belonging" in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.  Once he has satisfied his most basic needs, he can work towards the upper levels of the pyramid, which include sense of belonging.  These activities allow him to form relationships and demonstrate his social interests. They provide him with the friendship and acceptance from others that characterize the human need for belonging.

His interest in Chinese also applies to Henry Murray's theory of secondary motives. Jacob does not need to learn Chinese to survive, but it fulfills secondary motives.  It gives him affiliation (allowing him to feel connected to another group) and understanding (he partakes in academic pursuits to expand his knowledge and learning).

[Ava Varasteh]

Jacob’s enjoyment of scrabble to learn vocabulary applies Murray’s
secondary motives. Scrabble and learning supplementary vocabulary are
not essential to living. He enjoys learning but his secondary motives
could be achievement and possibly understanding. Also, Jacob enjoys
math because he likes the challenge, applying John Atkinson’s theory
that gratification can attained by performing a high difficulty task.

On Dec 8, 5:55 pm, jonathan <jsimon...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Madeleine Beimford]

Even at seven years old, Jacob is displaying at the very minimum, the first four levels of Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs. The bottommost part, the physiological desire is demonstrated in his need to be fed, and ability to try eating different food. His desire to be safe comes from learning about different animals, the need to belong is derived from his desire to learn Chinese, play hockey, and play soccer. The need to be esteemed comes from learning new vocabulary and learning math.

     This relates to Csikszentmikali’s theory of Flow. By ‘being good at’ such activities as math and hockey, Jacob is (in relation to Maslow) closer to self-actualization and attaining self-satisfaction and fulfillment. By staying involved in these activities in which he naturally adept, his desire to continue succeeding and becoming more involved will increase, therefore increasing his own happiness. Although these things are not primary motives - and in life or death situations, may not keep him alive - he demonstrates the secondary motivation for achievement and affiliation. Which, hopefully, if he achieves his flow, will keep him out of Hans Selye’s distress category and help him fulfill his own self-actualization.

[Raquel Rosenbloom]

Jacob's enjoyment of the challenge of math applies Murray's list of secondary motives. Jacob demonstrates the secondary motive of achievement because the aspect of math he enjoys is the accomplishment of something difficult. Additionally, Jacob's love for math demonstrates Murray's secondary motive of understanding, and the need to be curious and learn.
Jacob's affinity for soccer connects with Rotter's locus of control. Jacob loves soccer because he is good at it, and because he feels not only as though he is in control of himself on the field because he is a talented player, but also, he finds it easier to fulfill his self-actualization because he challenges himself to use his skills and be the best he can be.

[Carly Conway]

Murray's secondary motive of achievement could be applied to Jacob
playing soccer. He enjoys playing, but it is also a challenge so to
keep practicing and playing could be considered trying to master the
sport. You could also apply the secondary motive of harm avoidance to
Jacob's desire to speak chinese. It would be useful and helpful for
communication if in a dangerous situation.

On Dec 8, 5:55 pm, jonathan <jsimon...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Maulik Limbachiya]

Jacobs interest in playing soccer could be explained by arousal
theory. He could be playing soccer in order to expend his energy and
thus increase his level of arousal (bringing it back to his body's
"normal" state because before playing his arousal state was lower than
usual, although it could also work the other way around for stress
relief). Also, his need to eat may be explained by drive theory, which
states that some actions are performed in order to reduce the internal
tension that is caused by unmet needs. By eating, he is able to
subside the biological need for food, and thus bring his body back
into a more neutral state. Although it may be necessary to live in the
long run, his body can adapt to meet that need if food is unavailable
(by using fat stores or breaking down muscle tissue for energy).

[Yara Farahmand]

Jacob's interest in eating represents his bottom most layer to his "hierarchy of needs" (Maslow) because it provides him physiological soundness. Once he has satisfied his basic need to eat, he can move up to the next level he mentions, belonging. His interests in hockey, soccer, and Chinese are helpful to make connections with other people, and make friends. Chinese, soccer, and Hockey also relate to sikszentmikali’s theory of Flow. By learning to speak a different language and spend time with his friends, he is able to create a positive environment in which he wishes to excel and feels comfortable doing so, and thus will perform better as a whole. The challenge of some of these tasks is balanced off by their positive effects, improving attention and drive.

[Laura Scott]

Jacob is able to focus on higher-order needs such as achievement in
soccer and math, only once his lower-order needs such as eating, are
satisfied.
Under Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the commonsense theory is utilized
when Jacob eats. He feels the pain of hunger, which therefore causes
his body to recognize that he needs food, which then causes him to
want to eat. Additionally, Julian Rotter's Locus of Control theory can
apply to his playing of soccer. He likes the challenge, showing that
he embraces the difficult aspects of it, and displays his desire to
succeed at it. He is also good at it. These two factors make it likely
that Jacob will continue to play soccer as he grows older, and it has
the potential to become an important aspect of his life. If it becomes
something that he greatly excels at, it would therefore also bring it
to the top of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in terms of self-
actualization.

On Dec 8, 5:55 pm, jonathan <jsimon...@gmail.com> wrote:

[jack dario]

Clark L. Hull theorized that in the "arousal theory of motivation" organisms seek a level of arousal that is zero . When not playing Hockey, Jacob probably feels the desire to skate, be with friends, and handle the puck. Also, he is probably drawn to the hitting and contact. He is driven to play in order to fulfill this arousal, because he is able to do all the things he enjoys on the ice. Also, Jacob is driven to learn Chinese. He recognizes that it is important to learn because many people speak it and use it as means of communication. Hull's "drive reduction theory" could apply because he feels the need to be able to communicate in this way, so therefore he studies the language to fulfill this need. 

[Ashley Brede]

With math, Jacob says he is good at it and also likes the challenge.
This thought process could fall under any of the theories of emotion,
but one in particular would be the Schachter-Singer theory. This is
because Jacob may see a math problem on the page (stimuli), smile
(arousal), think "I can do this! Math is so fun!" (Apprasial), and
then feel happy (experience).

Also, with Soccer, Jacob has learned that he is rewarded (with a
winning game) when he plays well. He thinks he is good at it and it is
the opposite of Martin Seligman's learned helplessness. Learned
helplessness occurs when an animal gives up trying to escape a bad
situation because they feel like they are unable to (even when the
restraints are removed). With Jacob though, he has learned that a good
thing happens when he plays well, so he feels propelled to play more
successfully more often.