Understanding Behavior, Motivation, and the Nervous System
Understanding Behavior and Motivation
Characteristics of Motivated Behavior
Motivation is a broad psychological concept used to understand the conditions or states that energize the body and lead to goal-directed behavior. It’s difficult to think of any behavior, animal or human, that isn’t motivated in this sense.
Motivated behavior is characterized by its direction towards goals and its purposeful nature. The reasons behind these behaviors can differ along several dimensions, including:
- Internal or external
- Innate or learned
- Mechanistic or cognitive
- Conscious or unconscious
Learned Behavior
Learning is the modification of existing behaviors or the acquisition of new behaviors.
Types of Conduct
Main behavior types include aggressive, passive, and assertive. The focus should be on assertive behavior.
Innate Behavior
Innate behavior is inherent to an organism and doesn’t require learning.
The Nervous System
Neurons
Neurons are specialized cells in the nervous system responsible for the functions discussed earlier. They are highly specialized, to the point of losing the ability to perform other functions like cell division, self-nourishment, or self-defense.
Neuron Types:
- Bipolar: Possess two extensions; one dendrite serves as input, and the other acts as an axon output.
- Monopolar: Have a single, dual-purpose extension acting as both dendrite (input) and axon (output).
- Multipolar: The most common type. They have numerous small dendrites for input and a single axon for output.
Neuron Classifications:
- Sensory neurons: Receive information from the environment and transmit it to the central nervous system.
- Motor neurons: Transmit information from the central nervous system to effectors (muscles).
- Interneurons: Connect two or more neurons and are typically found in the central nervous system.
Parts of a Neuron
The neuron is the fundamental unit of the nervous system. It’s an elongated cell specialized for conducting nerve impulses.
- Dendrites: Short extensions from the neuron’s cell body (soma) that receive impulses from other neurons and transmit them to the soma.
- Axon: A single, long extension (up to a meter in length) that carries impulses from the soma to other locations.
Nervous System Components
- Receptor: Captures environmental stimuli and transforms them into nerve impulses.
- Afferent (sensory) pathway: Conducts nerve impulses from the receptor to the central processor.
- Central processor (brain and spinal cord): Develops a response to the nerve impulse.
- Efferent (motor) pathway: Conducts the response impulse to the effector.
- Effector (muscles and glands): Carries out the response to the stimulus.
Brain and Spinal Cord
The cerebellum is located at the bottom and back of the cranial cavity.
The medulla is a widening at the top of the spinal cord, connecting it to the brain and cerebellum.
The spinal cord is a cylindrical extension of the brain, about 1 cm in diameter, that communicates with the rest of the body.
Peripheral Nervous System
The peripheral nervous system is the second part of the cerebrospinal nervous system.
Cranial Nerves
Twelve pairs of cranial nerves branch from the brain. They are classified as sensory, motor, or mixed:
- Sensory: Olfactory, optic, auditory
- Motor: Oculomotor, trochlear, abducens, spinal accessory, hypoglossal
- Mixed: Trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus
The Endocrine System
The endocrine system is responsible for internal secretions, producing hormones in endocrine glands.
Behaviorism
Developed in the early 20th century, behaviorism has been a focus of psychological study since the field’s inception.
Influences on Behavior
Various situations and circumstances (e.g., food preferences, thirst, appetite changes) influence an individual’s motivational state.