A numerical scale indicating adult height in relation to weight; Calculated as (703 X Weight in pounds)/(height in inches)^2
Drive
A need or internal motivational state that activates behavior to reduce the need and restore homeostasis.
Sensation Seeking
The degree to which an individual is motivated to experience high levels of sensory and physical arousal associated with varied and novel activities.
Motivation
The biological, emotional, cognitive, or social forces that activate and direct behavior.
Instinct Theories
The view that certain human behaviors are innate and due to evolutionary programming.
Drive Theories
The view that behavior is motivated by the desire to reduce internal tension caused by unmet biological needs.
Homeostasis
The idea that the body monitors and maintains internal states, such as body temperature and energy supplies, at relatively constant levels; in general, the tendency to reach or maintain equilibrium
Incentive Theories
The view that behavior is motivated by the pull of external goals, such as rewards.
Arousal Theory
The view that people are motivated to maintain a level of arousal that is optimal—neither too high nor too low.
Humanistic Theories of Motivation
The view that emphasizes the importance of psychological and cognitive factors in motivation, especially the notion that people are motivated to realize their personal potential.
Glucose
Simple sugar that provides energy and is primarily produced by the conversion of carbohydrates and fats; commonly called blood sugar.
Insulin
Hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood levels of glucose and signals the hypothalamus, regulating hunger and eating behavior.
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
When the body is at rest, the rate at which it uses energy for vital functions, such as heartbeat and respiration.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY)
Neurotransmitter found in several brain areas, most notably the hypothalamus, that stimulates eating behavior and reduces metabolism, promoting positive energy balance and weight gain.
Set-point Theory
Theory that proposes that humans and other animals have a natural or optimal body weight, called the set-point weight, that the body defends from becoming higher or lower by regulating feelings of hunger and body metabolism.
The view that certain human behaviors are innate and due to evolutionary programming.
