Chapter 11 Questions for Discussion

  1. Hedonic hunger likely evolved to ensure that we would consume calories when they were available, thereby increasing our chances for survival when food was scarce. Food is highly available now, even in improbable places; stores like Home Depot make sure you can buy candy bars at their registers. Given the prevalence of stimuli that would trigger hedonic hunger, what are some strategies you can adopt for overcoming it and instead focusing on homeostatic hunger? [Apply]

  2. What brain system is likely activated in the person planning to skydive for fun? What particular neurotransmitters and brain regions are activated by this system? Is the same system also activated in the individual who is addicted to video games? Explain. [Comprehend]

  3. Of approach motivation and avoidance motivation, which does a better job explaining the following behaviors? Explain your answer. [Apply]

    • A student picks a challenging yet interesting term paper topic.

    • A child quits in the middle of a board game.

    • A man goes to a party but does not talk to anyone.

    • A runner maps out a longer-than-usual route.

  4. You read about research by Bandura and Cervone (1983) which indicated that having a goal and getting feedback on how you’re doing relative to that goal are highly motivating. If you’re not doing well, your disappointment can spur you into action; if you are doing well, the positive feedback can boost your confidence. Identify a goal you’re trying to achieve now. How might you solicit feedback on your progress so that you too can experience the motivational benefits of disappointment or a boost in confidence? [Apply]

  5. You read about a study by Gollwitzer and Sheeran (2006) in which participants who had been asked to make implementation intentions about when and where to get a flu shot were more likely to achieve their goal of getting a flu shot. Why do you suppose implementation intentions are effective? What knowledge about the types of goals that are most motivating can you draw on to help you answer? [Analyze]

  6. According to research on regulatory fit, people with a promotion focus tend to seek out different strategies to attain goals compared to people with a prevention focus. Consider a goal you would like to achieve. What would your promotion-focused strategies for its attainment look like? Your prevention-focused strategies? [Apply]

  7. 500

    Identify an upcoming due date, perhaps for a term paper or some other large-scale project. Specify a set of implementation intentions, if you haven’t already. Now examine those intentions. Do they tend to be more promotion- or prevention-focused? [Apply]

  8. You read about research by Duckworth and Seligman (2005) in which self-discipline was shown to be a better predictor of grades than is intelligence. What is self-discipline? What goal-setting principles from this chapter might help you achieve greater self-discipline? [Synthesize]

  9. Given the information presented in the chapter on the factors that increase motivation, what recommendations can you make right now to your teacher for how he or she can help you achieve your potential? [Synthesize]