This course introduces the student to theory, concepts and methods in the field of motivation
psychology. A variety of topics will be covered including the biological basis of motivation,
behavioural approaches, including drive and learning theory, cognitive approaches with its
emphasis on attri...
Incentive Motivation Essentials
• Definition of Incentives
Drive behind the behavior: "Goal objects"
• Nature of Incentives
Value varies by situation and time
Develop over life, not innate
• Structure Stimulus → Mediator → Response
Mediator = incentive motivation: Link between goals & actions
• Mediator Theories
Energy, emotion, or information
Key connector of goals to behavior Incentives as
Incentives as Energizers
• Historical Belief
Behavior motivated mainly by internal drives
• Shift in Perspective
External goals (objects) found to also motivate behavior
• Crespi’s Experiment (1942)
Setup: Rats running for varied food rewards
Change: Rewards adjusted on the 20th trial
Outcome: Drastic behaviour change based on modified rewards
• Insight from Crespi's Study
Reward size directly impacts performance, not the learning rate
Incentive Motivation (K)
• Origin in 1950s
Incentive motivation (K) introduced
Focus: Anticipating a goal influences behavior
• Hull-Spence Theory
Goal value = intensity of response it triggers
Consummatory responses (RG) influenced by the environment
• rg-sg Mechanism
Stimuli tied to RG can induce behavior before the goal is reached
Partial responses (rg) increase as the goal nears, boosting motivation
Anticipatory responses can be internal, like hunger
Persistence of Behaviour
• Key Concept: Behavior endures despite obstacles
• Amsel's Insight
Rats expect rewards, no reward leads to unlearned frustration response (RF)
Counterconditioning: Frustration can enhance the very behavior causing it
• Partial Reinforcement Extinction Effect (PREE)
Partial reinforcement > continuous reinforcement for persistent behavior
Example: A student studying harder after an unexpectedly low grade
Incentives as Generators of Emotion
• Mediating Role
Incentive motivation bridges stimulus and response, producing emotional states
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