Name: Indira Iyer

PUID: 0024282488

PSY 120

Kimberly Kinzig

ASSIGNMENT

1. Internal factors originate due to self-motivation. They are not done in

expectation of some reward. They are often done just for self satisfaction or

to feel good. Extrinsic factors on the other hand are those factors which

influence one behavior in order to get some reward. Some examples would

include a person doing cross-word puzzles ‘just for the fun of it’ as intrinsic

behavior and a parent telling a child that they will be given a dollar every

time they make their bed would be extrinsic behavior.

2. A drive is a psychologic state that arrises due to an internal psychological

need. For example when we feel hungry (a psychological need), a certain

psychological state arises, which is called a drive. Homeostasis is the

tendency for organisms to keep their physiological systems at a stable,

steady level by constantly adjusting themselves in response to a change. So

when we feel hungry, we eat to keep our glucose levels at their normal

levels.

3. The idea behind Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs was that

human needs are prioritized in a hierarchy. In the sense

 that some needs must be satisfied before others can be addressed. His order

was: physiological needs (hunger, thirst), safety needs (personal security),

belongingness and love needs, esteem needs and self actualization needs

(our desire to reach our true potential as human beings.) Opposers to

Maslow’s ideas argued about the order the needs were put in - does the need

to belong and be accepted really have a higher priority than that of self-

esteem? Critic’s of Maslow’s theory often point to it’s lack of scientific rigor.

4. The four phases of the sexual response cycle are excitement, plateau,

orgasm and resolution. Excitement is characterized by changes in muscle

tension, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and a rushing of blood to

the genital organs. Men experience an erection whereas in women the

clitoris swells and the lining of the vaginal walls become lubricated. In the

plateau phase arousal continues to increase, although at a slower pace to a

pre-orgasm maximum point. The penis becomes fully erect and the vaginal

lubrication increases. Next is the orgasmic phase where in there are rhythmic

contractions in the sex organs. The last phase is the resolution phase, during

which arousal returns to normal levels and for men there is a refractory

period where further stimulation fails to produce visible signs of arousal or

orgasm.

5. The term sexual orientation refers to whether one is sexually and

emotionally attracted to members of the same sex or other sex. It is

 determined, in part, by biological factors. A cluster of neurons associated

with the hypothalamus is consistently larger in heterosexual men than that in

homosexual men.

6. Activational effects of hormones are temporary effects caused by

hormones. This happens during puberty where estrogens stimulate female

sexual interest and androgens stimulate male sexual interest. Organizational

effects of hormones are permanent effects caused by hormones. A human

fetus starts off with a “unisex” body structure. Then hormonal effects

starting in the 7th or 8th week of prenatal development determines whether

a fetus becomes anatomically male or female.