📘 9.1 Psychological and Physiological Bases of Motivation and Emotion
🔍 Definition
- Motivation: An internal process that initiates, directs, and sustains goal-directed behaviour.
- Emotion: A complex psychological state involving physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience.
Both motivation and emotion drive human behaviour and often overlap in real-life functioning.
🧠 Psychological Bases
These include cognitive, behavioral, and social components.
A. Psychological Theories of Motivation
| Theory |
Description |
Example |
| Drive Reduction Theory |
Behavior is driven by biological needs (hunger, thirst). |
Eating when hungry |
| Maslow’s Hierarchy |
Needs progress from basic (physiological) to self-actualization |
A civil servant aiming for public good after basic needs |
| Herzberg’s Two-Factor |
Hygiene vs Motivators (especially in work motivation) |
Pay = hygiene; Recognition = motivator |
| McClelland’s Needs Theory |
Focus on nAch (achievement), nAff (affiliation), nPow (power) |
Entrepreneurs score high in nAch |
| Incentive Theory |
External rewards motivate behavior |
A student studies to win a medal |
B. Psychological Theories of Emotion
| Theory |
Key Idea |
Example |
| James-Lange Theory |
Emotion = Awareness of bodily changes |
“I feel afraid because I tremble” |
| Cannon-Bard Theory |
Emotion & arousal happen simultaneously |
Heart races and fear occur together |
| Schachter-Singer Theory |
Emotion = arousal + cognitive label |
Sweating + seeing tiger = fear; Sweating + exam = anxiety |
| Cognitive Appraisal (Lazarus) |
Thoughts come first; emotion follows |
Interpreting insult → anger |
⚙️ Physiological Bases
A. Brain Structures
| Brain Area |
Role in Motivation/Emotion |
| Hypothalamus |
Regulates hunger, thirst, sex drive |
| Amygdala |
Fear, aggression, emotional memory |
| Prefrontal Cortex |
Decision-making, regulation of emotions |
| Hippocampus |
Emotional memory, especially in stress situations |
B. Hormones and Neurotransmitters
| Chemical |
Role |
| Dopamine |
Reward and pleasure (high in addiction) |
| Serotonin |
Mood regulation (low in depression) |
| Adrenaline/Noradrenaline |
Fight or flight response |
| Cortisol |
Stress hormone |
| Oxytocin |
Bonding, love, trust |
C. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
- Sympathetic system: Arouses body during emotion (increased HR, BP, sweat)
- Parasympathetic system: Calms body after emotion
🧾 Example: An IAS officer facing mob violence may feel adrenaline surge (fight/flight), while post-resolution, the parasympathetic system slows them down.
📌 Real-Life Examples
| Situation |
Motivation |
Emotion |
| A student aiming for IAS |
Achievement motivation (McClelland) |
Hope, stress, excitement |
| A police officer chasing criminals |
Fight response (adrenaline) |
Anger, fear |
| Donating in a disaster |
Altruistic motivation |
Empathy, compassion |
| Civil servant receiving recognition |
nAch + External reward |
Pride, satisfaction |
🏛️ Application in Governance & Society
| Application Area |
Role of Motivation/Emotion |
| Public Administration |
Motivated officers perform better; emotional intelligence is key |
| Mental Health Initiatives |
Emotional dysregulation linked with many disorders |
| Policy Making |
Understanding public emotions helps in better communication |
| Behavioral Change Campaigns |
Use of emotions like pride (Swachh Bharat), fear (road safety) |
🧠 Summary Mind Map
Motivation & Emotion
├── Psychological Bases
│ ├── Drive, Incentive, Maslow
│ └── James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer
├── Physiological Bases
│ ├── Brain: Hypothalamus, Amygdala
│ ├── Neurotransmitters: Dopamine, Serotonin
│ └── ANS: Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic
├── Real-life Examples
├── UPSC Relevance: EI, Policy Design
✍️ Model 10-Marker Structure
- Define motivation & emotion
- Describe psychological theories with examples
- Explain physiological underpinnings
- Link to real-life and governance
- Brief conclusion – importance in behavior regulation
