Social MotivesSocial Motives

David Skinner, Nicole Stoddard, David Skinner, Nicole Stoddard, Liz Heaps, Heather Hutchinson, Liz Heaps, Heather Hutchinson,

and Max Martinezand Max Martinez

Psychology 3Psychology 3rdrd hour hour

Different TheoriesDifferent Theories

Fear of SuccessFear of SuccessWill cause people to do all in their power to Will cause people to do all in their power to

avoid successavoid successWomen tend to suffer more so than menWomen tend to suffer more so than men

Raised to believe that to succeed was not Raised to believe that to succeed was not acceptable for womenacceptable for women

Example: A woman in college may feel it is ok Example: A woman in college may feel it is ok to do well on her finals, but it would not be ok to do well on her finals, but it would not be ok for her to be at the top of her class, above all for her to be at the top of her class, above all the men.the men.

Different theoriesDifferent theories

Expectancy-ValueExpectancy-ValueExplains goal-directed behaviorExplains goal-directed behaviorEstimated likelihood of success to what the Estimated likelihood of success to what the

goal is worthgoal is worthHow likely is it that a student barely passing high How likely is it that a student barely passing high

school will become a doctor when that goal means school will become a doctor when that goal means little to them?little to them?

How about a straight B student who wants to be a How about a straight B student who wants to be a lawyer, and who really works toward that?lawyer, and who really works toward that?

Different theoriesDifferent theories

CompetencyCompetencyAlso explains goal-directed behaviorAlso explains goal-directed behaviorHow good at something we are determines How good at something we are determines

how difficult or achievable tasks we choosehow difficult or achievable tasks we chooseToo easy and we don’t learn anythingToo easy and we don’t learn anythingToo hard and we can’t learn anythingToo hard and we can’t learn anything

We choose moderately difficult tasks so we We choose moderately difficult tasks so we learn from both failure and successlearn from both failure and success

Example: A C-average student won’t take 5 Example: A C-average student won’t take 5 AP classes just for funAP classes just for fun

Different theoriesDifferent theories

IntrinsicIntrinsicThe knowledge you gain and fun you have is The knowledge you gain and fun you have is

enough reward for doing a taskenough reward for doing a taskExample: Reading a Harry Potter book Example: Reading a Harry Potter book

because you enjoy that activitybecause you enjoy that activityExtrinsicExtrinsic

Getting some form of external reward for an Getting some form of external reward for an activityactivity

Example: Getting paid to deliver phone books Example: Getting paid to deliver phone books in the summerin the summer

TidbitsTidbits

Social motives can be learned from interactions Social motives can be learned from interactions with otherswith others

Can be measuredCan be measured One of the main tools for this is a TAT (Thematic One of the main tools for this is a TAT (Thematic

Apperception Test)Apperception Test) Was a series of picturesWas a series of pictures The person taking the test had to come up with a story to The person taking the test had to come up with a story to

explain each oneexplain each one There were no “correct” answersThere were no “correct” answers David McClelland, the man who developed the TAT, came David McClelland, the man who developed the TAT, came

up with a scoring system to determine the highest motivator up with a scoring system to determine the highest motivator for that personfor that person

Similar to personality aptitude testsSimilar to personality aptitude tests

Stats from TATsStats from TATs

McClelland tested college students in 1947 McClelland tested college students in 1947 He found that 11 years after graduation, 83% of He found that 11 years after graduation, 83% of

the entrepreneurs (business people, salesmen, the entrepreneurs (business people, salesmen, real estate, etc.) scored high on the TATreal estate, etc.) scored high on the TAT

Only 21% of non entrepreneurs scored highOnly 21% of non entrepreneurs scored high Decided not all of us should aim to be high Decided not all of us should aim to be high

achieversachievers Such people are not always interestingSuch people are not always interesting

Aren’t usually artistically sensitive, and are less likely to value Aren’t usually artistically sensitive, and are less likely to value intimacy in a relationship; they prefer to associate intimacy in a relationship; they prefer to associate themselves with successful people rather than friendly themselves with successful people rather than friendly peoplepeople

Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Image found at Image found at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs.svg/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs.svg/800px-Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs.svg.png800px-Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs.svg.png

Maslow’s Fundamental NeedsMaslow’s Fundamental Needs

Bottom of the hierarchy; biological needs Bottom of the hierarchy; biological needs that must be satisfied in order to maintain that must be satisfied in order to maintain lifelife

ExamplesExamplesFoodFoodWaterWaterSafety/SecuritySafety/SecurityBreathingBreathingSleepSleep

Maslow’s Psychological NeedsMaslow’s Psychological Needs

Next level in the hierarchy; if these are Next level in the hierarchy; if these are shorted, it will be difficult for a person to shorted, it will be difficult for a person to achieve fulfillment in the top levelachieve fulfillment in the top level

Examples includeExamples includeBelonging/giving and receiving loveBelonging/giving and receiving loveFriendship and familyFriendship and familySelf-respectSelf-respectConfidenceConfidenceRespect for and from othersRespect for and from others

Maslow’s Self-Actualization NeedsMaslow’s Self-Actualization Needs

Top level of the hierarchy; whatever may Top level of the hierarchy; whatever may be required to sustain the realization of be required to sustain the realization of one’s unique potentialone’s unique potential

ExamplesExamplesMoralityMoralityCreativityCreativityPursuit of knowledge and beautyPursuit of knowledge and beautyPrejudices or the lack thereofPrejudices or the lack thereofAccepting or rejecting factsAccepting or rejecting facts

The Monkey Wrench…The Monkey Wrench…

Other, more recent studies have shown Other, more recent studies have shown that the lower level of needs do not that the lower level of needs do not necessarily have to be met before the necessarily have to be met before the higher levelshigher levels

Any particular need may dominate at any Any particular need may dominate at any time, depending on the person, situation, time, depending on the person, situation, and timeand time

Example: Christopher Columbus risked Example: Christopher Columbus risked safety, but may quite possibly have safety, but may quite possibly have achieved self-actualizationachieved self-actualization

So which hierarchy level is dominate?So which hierarchy level is dominate?

A bum in the Park hasn’t had food for 5 A bum in the Park hasn’t had food for 5 days, has been drinking out of the River, days, has been drinking out of the River, and has to worry about where he’s going and has to worry about where he’s going to sleep safely each night. However, he to sleep safely each night. However, he has a girlfriend who loves him, and whom has a girlfriend who loves him, and whom he loves in return.he loves in return.

Psychological (Second)Psychological (Second)

So which hierarchy level is dominate?So which hierarchy level is dominate?

Vincent Vangough cut off his own ear, was Vincent Vangough cut off his own ear, was dirt poor, and lived in what could scarcely dirt poor, and lived in what could scarcely be called a shack, but he was a be called a shack, but he was a phenomenal painter and was very pleased phenomenal painter and was very pleased with his work.with his work.

Self-Actualization (Third)Self-Actualization (Third)

So which hierarchy level is dominate?So which hierarchy level is dominate?

A CEO has all of his physical needs met, A CEO has all of his physical needs met, and finds his job very fulfilling. He has and finds his job very fulfilling. He has reached his current job level by his sheer reached his current job level by his sheer determination, hard work, and creativity. determination, hard work, and creativity. But he lives by himself, has never been But he lives by himself, has never been able to date anyone for longer than a able to date anyone for longer than a couple months, and has no living family.couple months, and has no living family.

Self-Actualization (Third)Self-Actualization (Third)

So that was all as clear So that was all as clear as mud, right?as mud, right?

Well, hopefully you caught Well, hopefully you caught some of that because here some of that because here comes the evil, much comes the evil, much dreaded POP QUIZ!!!!dreaded POP QUIZ!!!!