Unit 5: Human Motivation & Emotion

In this part of the course, students explore biological and social factors that motivate behavior and biological and cultural factors that influence emotion .

Motivation

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Unit Objectives
  • ​Identify and apply basic motivational concepts to understand the behavior of humans and other animals (e.g., instincts, incentives, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation).
  • Discuss the biological underpinnings of motivation, including needs, drives, and homeostasis.
  • Compare and contrast motivational theories (e.g., drive reduction theory, arousal theory, general adaptation theory), including the strengths and weaknesses of each.
  • Describe classic research findings in specific motivation systems (e.g., eating, sex, social)
The Power of Motivation: Crash Course Psychology #17

Emotion
Unit Objectives
  • Compare and contrast major theories of emotion (e.g., James–Lange, Cannon–Bard, Schachter two-factor theory).
  • Describe how cultural influences shape emotional expression, including variations in body language.
  • Identify key contributors in the psychology of motivation and emotion (e.g., William James, Alfred Kinsey, Abraham Maslow, Stanley Schachter, Hans Selye).
  • Discuss theories of stress and the effects of stress on psychological and physical well-being.


Resources
Motivation and Emotion- DISCOVERING PSYCHOLOGY
Emotion, Stress and Health: Crash Course Psychology #26
​Let's Talk About Sex: Crash Course Psychology #27
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