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It must be presumed that an individual exerts a certain control over its behaviour, but the nature of this control eludes direct observations. Some quite hypothetical models of this control have been constructed, and these are named "Motivational systems" and are sketched in Figure 2. Figure 2.
Motivational systems are divided in two groups: the General motivational systems are un-specific and diffuse in nature. An example of such a general motivation is Arousal which will be touched upon later, but for now Arousal can be translated with an increased activation - the individual becomes sort of "high-strung". These general motivational systems moderate the activity (or expression) of the more Specific motivational systems, which concerns specific needs or -behaviour. All specific motivations are so-called "Goal-oriented" behaviour. Such behaviours are divided in two phases: An appetitive phase controlled by positive feedback and a consummatoric phase controlled by negative feedback. Regarding e.g. Food-motivation, the appetitive phase consist in searching for food. The closer the individual get to the food source the more positive feedback it will receive (olfactory-, visual- and other clues) and the more it will intensify it's foraging. Once the prey is killed (or the potato-field located) the individual passes to the consummatoric phase during which the food is ingested. This phase is controlled by negative feedback due to the physiological consequences of ingesting the food. The individual is simply becoming satiated and stop executing the food motivation. Next topic: Counter-hypothesis to "Genetically based differences..". |
