What is Motivation?
Motivation is the reason we do something.
It gives us the drive to:
- Eat.
- Drink.
- Learn.
- Work.
- Exercise.
- Help other people.
- Reach our goals.
Without motivation, we would be less likely to take action.
Types of Motivation
Intrinsic Motivation
This means doing something because you enjoy it.
Examples:
- Reading because you like learning.
- Painting because it makes you happy.
- Walking because you enjoy being outdoors.
The reward comes from the activity itself.
Extrinsic Motivation
This means doing something because of an outside reward.
Examples:
- Studying to pass an exam.
- Going to work to earn money.
- Cleaning your room because your parents ask you to.
The reward comes from outside yourself.
Instinct Theory
Some behaviours happen naturally.
Examples include:
- Babies sucking for milk.
- Pulling your hand away from something hot.
These behaviours help us survive.
Drive-Reduction Theory
Our bodies try to stay in balance.
When something is missing, we feel a drive to fix it.
Examples:
- Hungry → Eat.
- Thirsty → Drink.
- Cold → Put on a coat.
After our need is met, the drive becomes weaker.
Arousal Theory
People like a certain level of excitement.
Too little excitement can make us feel bored.
Too much excitement can make us feel stressed.
Many people try to find a balance.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Psychologist Abraham Maslow believed people have different levels of needs.
From the bottom to the top:
- Physical needs (food, water, sleep)
- Safety
- Love and belonging
- Self-esteem
- Self-actualization (reaching your full potential)
People usually focus on basic needs before higher needs.
Module 10.2 – Hunger and Eating (Easy Read)
Why Do We Feel Hungry?
Hunger is controlled by the brain and the body.
The brain receives messages telling us when to eat and when to stop eating.
Ghrelin
Ghrelin is called the hunger hormone.
It is made in the stomach.
When your stomach is empty, ghrelin increases.
It tells your brain:
"I'm hungry."
Leptin
Leptin is called the fullness hormone.
It is made by fat cells.
It tells your brain:
"I've had enough food."
Blood Glucose
Blood glucose is the amount of sugar in your blood.
If blood glucose becomes low:
- Your brain tells you to eat.
After eating:
- Blood glucose rises again.
Stomach Signals
When your stomach is empty:
- It contracts.
- You may hear your stomach rumble.
When you eat:
- Your stomach stretches.
- This helps tell your brain you are becoming full.
Why Do We Eat?
People do not eat only because they are hungry.
We also eat because of:
- Habits.
- Smells.
- Taste.
- Family traditions.
- Celebrations.
- Emotions.
- Seeing other people eat.
Eating Disorders
Sometimes thoughts and feelings affect eating in unhealthy ways.
Examples include:
- Anorexia nervosa – eating very little because of an intense fear of gaining weight.
- Bulimia nervosa – episodes of binge eating followed by behaviours such as vomiting or excessive exercise.
- Binge-eating disorder – eating unusually large amounts of food while feeling a loss of control.
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions. They are not simply about food or a lack of willpower.
Obesity
Body weight is influenced by many factors, including:
- Genetics.
- Hormones.
- Diet.
- Physical activity.
- Sleep.
- Mental health.
- Medications.
- Environment.
Doctors often use Body Mass Index (BMI) as one screening tool, but it does not measure health on its own.
How This Links to Psychology
These two chapters show that our behaviour is influenced by both the body and the mind.
For example:
- The body sends signals through hormones like ghrelin and leptin.
- The brain interprets those signals.
- Our thoughts, emotions, memories, and experiences influence how we respond.
This links back to what you've been studying in cognition. Our behaviour is not controlled by one thing alone—it results from the interaction of our biology, thinking, emotions, and environment.
For your book, these chapters also connect well with your existing eating disorders section. Rather than repeating all the medical details, you could use Module 10 to explain why we eat and what motivates our behaviour, then refer readers to your dedicated eating disorders chapter for a more detailed discussion of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, treatment, and recovery.
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