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Psychological Motivation

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Psychological Motivation
Motivational

Motivational theories essentially state the behavior is based on a factor of motivation for the individual. (Taylor, 2006) An example would be the man who steals in order to feed his family. This implies the cognitive and the learning theory. The learning theory may be implied as his father was a strong provider and the thief may want to accomplish in the same manner as his father did. The cognitive theory may be associated depending on how the individual views his world. Certain elements would then overlap into cognitive theories.

Cognitive

Cognitive theory relates to the way the individual views the world. Based on this view behaviors will emerge. As an example, some people see the world as being against them, and based on this will behave in hostile or antisocial ways. Learning and sociocultural theories can impact this further. If a child learned this thinking from their parents then it would certainly influence his cognitive behavior. Regarding sociocultural influences, I would venture to say that in many cases there are vast disparities in behavior based on sociocultural differences. A child raised in a poor section of Harlem, would have different thoughts (and behaviors) than a privileged child in Beverly Hills. (Taylor, Cognitive Theories, 2006)

Learning

A great majority of our behaviors come from what we learned. We mimic our parents, teachers, and friends. This is further influenced by the thinking of those around us and their thinking has been influenced by sociocultural influences. As stated above, depending on financial, cultural, and customs of the community you belong to, there are going to be things that are considered normal, and things that are thought to be abnormal. (Taylor, Learning Theories, 2006)

Sociocultural

Sociocultural behavior theory states that we are influenced by the society and communities of which we are a part of. If we go to the grocery, we are conditioned to understand that we enter the line at the checkout from the back. Someone that was not accustomed this behavior may simply cut in line without understanding that they were breaking the societal norm. (Taylor, SocioCultural Theories, 2006)

Evolutionary

Evolutionary behavior theory suggests that there were a series of learned behaviors that we learned and evolved as the species evolved. The text cites cooperation among the individuals in our species as a point of collaboration that has leaded us to where we are today. Other options may include staying warm in the winter which lead to living longer and passing this ideal on to offspring who would then teach their offspring, ad infinitum. (Taylor, Evolutionary Social Psychology, 2006)

Works Cited
Taylor, S. (2006). Cognitive Theories. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (p. 8). Saddle River: Pearson.
Taylor, S. (2006). Evolutionary Social Psychology. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (p. 13). Saddle River: Pearson.
Taylor, S. (2006). Learning Theories. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (pp. 6-7). Saddle River: Pearson.
Taylor, S. (2006). Motivational Theories. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (p. 6). Saddle River: Pearson.
Taylor, S. (2006). SocioCultural Theories. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (pp. 10-12). Saddle River: Pearson.

Cited: Taylor, S. (2006). Cognitive Theories. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (p. 8). Saddle River: Pearson. Taylor, S. (2006). Evolutionary Social Psychology. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (p. 13). Saddle River: Pearson. Taylor, S. (2006). Learning Theories. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (pp. 6-7). Saddle River: Pearson. Taylor, S. (2006). Motivational Theories. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (p. 6). Saddle River: Pearson. Taylor, S. (2006). SocioCultural Theories. In S. Taylor, Social Psychology (pp. 10-12). Saddle River: Pearson.

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