Chapter 9. Motivation Textbook Solutions

NIOS Class 12 Psychology Chapter 9 Answers

INTEXT QUESTIONS 9.1

Choose the correct option

1. The process which directs and sustains behaviour to reach a goal is known as

(a) Motivation 

(b) Incentive

(c) Drive 

(d) Desire

Ans: (a)

2. Hunger does not involve this physiological factor

(a) Corpus callosum 

(b) Stomach

(c) Pancreas 

(d) Hypothalamus

Ans: (a)

3. Biological motives are not driven by-

(a) Hormones 

(b) Faith

(c) Hypothalamus 

(d) Neurotransmitters

Ans: (b)

4. Psychosocial motives are mainly explained through-

(a) Physiology 

(b) Culture of individual

(c) Hormones 

(d) Intersection of individual with environment

Ans: (d)

INTEXT QUESTIONS 9.2

1. Shubham is given a chocolate after he clears every exam. This is an example of

(a) Intrinsic reward 

(b) Drive behaviour

(c) Need satisfaction 

(d) Extrinsic motivation

Ans: (d)

2. Match the following

(a) Creativity	(i) Physiological need
(b) Peaceful living	(ii) Self-actualization
(c) Social prestige	(iii) Belonging need
(d) Footwear	(iv) Safety needs
(e) Trade unions	(v) Esteem need

Ans: 

(a) (ii)

(b) (iv)

(c) (v)

(d) (i)

(e) (iii)

TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. Describe the concept of motivation.

Ans: Motivation can be described as the process by which activities are started, directed and continued, and thus meet our physical or psychological needs. The word itself is derived from the Latin word ‘movere’, which means ‘to move’. So one can say motivation is the energy that ‘moves’ people to carry out things that they wish to do.

2. Explain the cycle of motivation.

Ans: 

• The source of all motivation can be traced to ‘needs’, which refers to a lack or a deprivation. It may be biological (e.g. hunger) or psychological (e.g. affection) in nature. Since needs act as the motivating forces, they are also known as motives. 
• Needs produce ‘drive’ which refers to a state of tension where the need is intensified. 
• This triggers the ‘arousal’ of actions that direct behaviour along the path of fulfilling the need. In the motivational cycle, this phase is represented by ‘goal-directed behaviour’. 
• In the course of actions, if there is an ‘achievement’ by means of satisfaction of the need, there is a ‘reduction of arousal’ and balance is restored in the behavioural activities. 
• That is, until a need arises again and the pattern repeats.

3. Discuss the biological needs of human behaviour.

Ans: Biological needs are based on the basic premise that physiological processes like neural activities and hormonal secretion are the basic drives that affect an individual’s behaviour. Theories on biological motives were the earliest attempt at explaining motivation and viewed human behaviour as primarily instinctual, i.e., driven by instincts. Instincts refer to innate urges or tendencies that lead to predetermined and hence predictable patterns of behaviour in a species. Instincts can then be viewed as internal guiding forces that direct behaviour towards satisfying needs arising from within the body. The basic needs covered under biological motives are hunger, thirst and sex, which play an important role in survival and sustenance of an individual.

4. What are psychosocial motives? Discuss briefly.

Ans: Psychosocial motives arise from an individual’s interaction with his/her environment. They relate to psychological aspects of behaviour like achievement, attachment and need for power, which cannot be solely determined by individual physiology/biology. Rathe,r they are learned and developed during the process of socialization by an individual. The socializing agents may range from parents, peers, family, school, media and the socio-cultural system at large. Henc,e we call them psychosocial motives.

5. Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

Ans: 

• Intrinsic Motivation-When an individual is motivated for a task because he/she finds it personally rewarding, and not because it leads to external incentives, it is a case of intrinsic motivation. Intrinsically motivated individuals require no external pull or push to do something or to act in a particular manner. E.g. cleaning your room because you like being an organized person. 
• Extrinsic Motivation- Humans, being social creatures, are often pushed or pulled by external sources to move in a particular direction to achieve a desired goal. When external factors like desire for rewards or fear of punishment drive behaviour, it is a case of extrinsic motivation. E.g. cleaning your room because relatives are coming for a visit. 

6. Explain Maslow’s need hierarchy.

Ans: Maslow’s need hierarchy pyramid model identifies and conceptualizes human needs in five levels of hierarchy. The basic premise of his theory is that one is motivated to attain higher-level needs only once needs at the lower level are satisfied. 

• At the bottom lies the ‘physiological needs’ which comprise food, water, sleep, sex, shelter, clothing, clean air, etc. 
• After this comes ‘safety needs’ (both physical and psychological). They pertain to security, protection, need for law and order, freedom from fea,r etc. 
• Next comes the ‘belonging and love needs’ which involves seeking a sense of belongingness and affiliation. It can be found in interpersonal relationships like friendships, family and social circles and by sharing mutual trust, acceptance and intimacy. 
• After the satisfaction of previous needs comes the ‘esteem needs’. It can be understood as a desire to be in good reputation, prestige, dignity, and a feeling of accomplishment. 
• Finally, a person reaches the highest level of need known as ‘self-actualization’, which corresponds to achieving one’s full potential.

7. What is TAT? How is it used in psychological assessment?

Ans: The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is a psychological tool that is widely used for the assessment of motivation in individuals. The test involves a series of ambiguous pictures to which the participants are asked to make up a story for each picture. The basic assumption behind the test is that the participant projects his/her own needs in the process of creating the story. The responses are then scored in accordance with scoring manuals to provide individual scores in the areas of achievement, affiliation and power needs.

8. Illustrate the relationship between aspiration, achievement and human efforts.

Ans: 

• Aspirations refer to goals that stem from the desire for more than what is in the present. 
• It finds a relation to achievement because aspirations drive people to want to achieve more or have more than they possess. They may be positive (like aspiring for success) or negative (like wanting to avoid failure), intrinsic or extrinsic, realistic or unrealistic. However, having high aspirations and being highly motivated alone does not guarantee the attainment of goals. 
• A third factor, called human effort, is an essential contributor to reaching our aspirations. Human effort or behaviour may be guided by physiological functioning as well as influenced by socio-cultural environment. Further, individual differences will cause variations in the levels of aspiration, the motivation to achieve and ultimately the amount and nature of effort they put towards different tasks.

9. Does essentially everyone moves upward in the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Ans: Though Maslow called it a ‘hierarchy’ of needs, one does not essentially move upward in these levels. There are times when people fall back to the most basic needs even after being at higher levels. For e.g. after a natural calamity, like a tsunami, or losing a job, people at higher levels come back to fulfilling their basic needs. Maslow also talked about peak experiences where a person temporarily experiences growth and self-actualization at various points in life.

10. What will happen if our primary and secondary needs will not be fulfilled?

Ans: The primary needs or basic needs covered under biological motives are hunger, thirst and sex, which play an important role in survival and sustenance of an individual. If these needs are not fulfilled, we may suffer physically and psychologically,y affecting the quality of our lives. 

The secondary needs relate to psychological aspects of behaviour like achievement, attachment and need for power. If these needs are not fulfilled, it affects the way we are socially and affects the learning that they relate to psychological aspects of behaviour like achievement, attachment and need for power.

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