Theories of Motivation

Please do 1 out of the 13 options; it should be a substantive piece of writing (about 2 pages double-spaced.).

Using examples from ONE of the following topics –

Lifespan Psychosocial Development

Motivation

Stress

Psychopathology (Mental Illness)

Language

Discuss the interaction and contributions of nature (genes/biology/evolution) and nurture (environment).

2Distinguish between sex and gender. Discuss the contributions of biology and socialization to the formation of sexual behavior and gender identity in modern Western society.

Using concepts related to non-verbal cognitive, biological, and language development, describe the process of how we learn to think.

Discuss your experience as a teenager in terms of AT LEAST one of the developmental theories reviewed in this portion of the course (Piaget, Erikson, or Marcia). What problems are unique to the life of a late 20^th century American adolescent?

Define motivation in terms of its most important components. Describe 2 theories of motivation.

Discuss hunger in terms of internal and external influences. Describe the possible evolutionary and societal contributions to America’s current difficulties with obesity and eating disorders. Why is dieting a waste of time and so potentially harmful? Describe a realistic program for obtaining and maintaining a healthy (as opposed to mythical ideal) weight.

Melucci says – “The social world is partly in our heads, and what goes on in our heads influences our social selves.” To which aspects of social psychology is she referring?

Compare and contrast two of the following personality theories AND any associated psychotherapeutic techniques:

Psychoanalytic

Trait theory

Post-Freudian

Humanistic

Social Learning/Cognitive

Self

Describe two well known methods for assessing personality, and also discuss some of the serious problems involved in making such assessments.

Describe two (2) of the following classic social psychology experiments:

Stanford Prison Experiment

Festinger’s Cognitive Dissonance Experiment

Asch’s Conformity Study

Milgram’s Obedience to Authority experiment

Langer’s ROTC Pilot Experiment

Lewin’s study of Leadership styles

“Pygmalion in the Classroom” (Rosenthal & Jacobson)

The Riceville, Iowa Prejudice Experiment (“Brown Eyes/Blue Eyes” – Jane Elliot)

Be sure to describe the results and what these results suggest about human behavior.

Define and differentiate between stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination. How does prejudice influence social behavior?

Summarize and evaluate the view that mental illness is, at least in part, a cultural phenomenon based on the evidence presented by the instructor and in your textbook.

13.Describe what is known about one of the Axis I or Axis II mental illnesses that is currently diagnosed and treated in our society. What are the symptoms and the prognosis on the person’s ability to return to a “normal” life? What are the most successful treatments available to date?

………………….Answer Preview…………………Motivation has been defined differently by many scholars but most efficiently, it can be defined as the process that guides and maintains goal oriented behaviors. Motivation is what causes people to take action for anything (Hockenbury, p.37). It consists of biological, emotional, social and cognitive forces that make the behavior in someone. It used every day to describe why someone has taken certain action and the drives people to do whatever they do (Woodworth, p.78). For example, it is motivation that enables someone to respond to thirst by drinking water………………….

APA

647 words