Psychology · Unit 9
Motivation and Emotion
What drives us, and theories of emotion
Motivation is the question of why anyone does anything when they could do nothing, and the answers divide sharply on whether the drive comes from inside or outside.
The unit covers needs and drives, Maslow's hierarchy, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, theories of emotion, and goals and willpower.
This unit breaks down into 23 short steps and 119 questions, starting at difficulty 1 and building to 5. Below you can see exactly what it covers, how the path is structured, and worked examples with explanations.
- Steps
- 23
- Questions
- 119
- Difficulty
- 1-5
What this unit covers
- Needs and Drives
- Maslow's Hierarchy
- Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
- Theories of Emotion
- Goals and Willpower
Where this fits
Follows Feelings and Emotions.
Where people slip
Rewarding something someone already enjoys can reduce their motivation to do it. The overjustification effect is well documented and counter-intuitive.
How the unit is structured
Motivation and Emotion runs as 23 short steps that unlock in order. 17 are practice rounds and 6 are challenge rounds that pull together everything before them. Questions start at difficulty 1 and climb to 5 as you progress.
Challenge rounds
Example questions
30 real questions from this unit, with the answer and the reason behind it, grouped by what they practise. There are 119 in the unit altogether.
Goals and Willpower
- Multiple choiceLevel 1
1. In psychology, a goal is best described as what?
- Something you want to reach or achievecorrect
- A mistake you made in the past
- A basic body need like water
- A sudden feeling of fear
A goal is something you want to reach or achieve, which helps guide your actions.
- Fill the blankLevel 2
2. The famous study where children tried to wait before eating a treat is the ____ test.
- marshmallowcorrect
- cookie
- candy
- apple
The marshmallow test studied whether children could wait to get a second treat.
- Odd one outLevel 2
3. Which of these makes it HARDER to reach a goal?
- Giving up quicklycorrect
- Practicing often
- Planning ahead
- Staying focused
Practicing, planning, and staying focused help you reach a goal, but giving up quickly gets in the way.
- True or falseLevel 2
4. Choosing to wait for a bigger reward later instead of a small reward now is called delayed gratification.
Answer: True
True. Delayed gratification means putting off a small reward now to get a bigger one later.
- Type the answerLevel 2
5. Waiting now to get a better reward later is called delayed ____.
Answer: gratification
Delayed gratification is the self-control to wait for a bigger reward later.
- Fill the blankLevel 2
6. Breaking a big goal into smaller ____ makes it feel easier and helps you keep going.
- stepscorrect
- prizes
- drives
- emotions
Splitting a goal into small steps makes progress feel manageable and keeps motivation up.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
- Multiple choiceLevel 1
7. Intrinsic motivation means you do something because of what?
- You enjoy it or find it interestingcorrect
- Someone pays you money
- You want to win a prize
- You are afraid of punishment
Intrinsic motivation comes from inside you, like enjoying an activity or finding it interesting.
- True or falseLevel 1
8. Playing a sport just because it is fun is an example of intrinsic motivation.
Answer: True
True. When the reason is your own enjoyment, that is intrinsic motivation.
- Choose all that applyLevel 2
9. Which of these are examples of extrinsic motivation? Select all that apply.
- Studying to get a good gradecorrect
- Working for a paycheckcorrect
- Doing a task to win a trophycorrect
- Drawing because you love it
Grades, pay, and trophies are all outside rewards, so they are extrinsic; drawing for love is intrinsic.
- Fill the blankLevel 2
10. Doing chores only to earn allowance money is ____ motivation.
- extrinsiccorrect
- intrinsic
- hidden
- natural
Working for money is an outside reward, which makes it extrinsic motivation.
- Odd one outLevel 2
11. Three of these are intrinsic reasons to read a book. Which one is the EXTRINSIC reason?
- Because your teacher gives you a stickercorrect
- Because the story is exciting
- Because you are curious about it
- Because you simply enjoy reading
Reading for a sticker is an outside reward, so it is extrinsic, unlike the enjoyment reasons.
- Match the pairsLevel 4
12. Match each self-determination theory need to its meaning.
Answer: Autonomy = Feeling in control of your choices; Competence = Feeling capable and effective; Relatedness = Feeling connected to others
Deci and Ryan said autonomy, competence, and relatedness are the three needs that fuel healthy motivation.
Maslow's Hierarchy
- Multiple choiceLevel 1
13. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is usually drawn as what shape?
- A pyramidcorrect
- A circle
- A straight line
- A square
It is drawn as a pyramid, with basic needs at the wide bottom and higher needs at the top.
- Fill the blankLevel 2
14. The need to reach your full potential, at the top of the pyramid, is called self-____.
- actualizationcorrect
- esteem
- safety
- control
Self-actualization is the top need, about becoming the best version of yourself.
- Guess the numberLevel 2
15. How many levels are in Maslow's classic hierarchy of needs?
Answer: 5
Maslow's classic pyramid has five levels, from physiological needs up to self-actualization.
- Odd one outLevel 3
16. Three of these are deficiency needs we try to fill when they are lacking. Which one is the growth need at the top?
- Self-actualizationcorrect
- Safety
- Esteem
- Love and belonging
The bottom four are deficiency needs, while self-actualization is a growth need about becoming your best self.
- Choose all that applyLevel 4
17. Maslow said self-actualized people often share which qualities? Select all that apply.
- Accepting of themselves and otherscorrect
- Having deep, meaningful relationships
- Enjoying occasional 'peak experiences'correct
- Caring only about money and status
Maslow described self-actualized people as accepting, connected, and open to profound peak experiences.
- Match the pairsLevel 4
18. Match each Maslow need to an example that fits it.
Answer: Physiological = Breathing and eating; Safety = A stable home and job; Esteem = Respect and achievement; Self-actualization = Living up to your potential
Each level of Maslow's pyramid matches a different kind of human need, from basic body needs to personal growth.
Needs and Drives
- Fill the blankLevel 1
19. When your body runs low on water, you feel a drive called ____.
- thirstcorrect
- hunger
- sleepiness
- boredom
Thirst is the drive that makes you want to drink and put water back into your body.
- Multiple choiceLevel 1
20. In psychology, what is a 'need'?
- Something a living thing must have to survive or stay healthycorrect
- A fun activity you enjoy for no reason
- A place where you go to sleep
- A friend you like to play with
A need is something a living thing must have to survive or stay healthy, like food or water.
- Odd one outLevel 1
21. Which of these is NOT a basic body need?
- A new video gamecorrect
- Food
- Water
- Sleep
Food, water, and sleep are basic body needs, but a new video game is a want, not a need.
- True or falseLevel 1
22. Hunger is a drive that pushes you to look for food.
Answer: True
True. Hunger is the inner drive that motivates you to find and eat food.
- Choose all that applyLevel 2
23. Which of these are basic biological needs? Select all that apply.
- Foodcorrect
- Watercorrect
- Sleepcorrect
- A new toy
- Winning a prize
Food, water, and sleep are things the body truly needs, while toys and prizes are wants.
- Put in orderLevel 4
24. Order these steps as drive-reduction theory describes them.
Answer: A body need arises -> A drive or tension builds -> You act to satisfy the need -> The drive is reduced and balance returns
Drive-reduction theory: a need creates a drive, action reduces the drive, and the body returns to homeostasis.
Theories of Emotion
- Multiple choiceLevel 1
25. In psychology, an emotion is best described as what?
- A feeling such as joy, fear, or anger
- A body organ near the heart
- A type of long-term memory
- A made-up idea with no real effect
An emotion is a feeling such as joy, fear, or anger that affects the mind and body.
- Odd one outLevel 1
26. Which of these is NOT an emotion?
- Yawningcorrect
- Curiosity
- Sadness
- Joy
Curiosity, sadness, and joy are feelings, but yawning is a body action, not an emotion.
- Choose all that applyLevel 2
27. Which of these can be body signs of a strong emotion? Select all that apply.
- A faster heartbeatcorrect
- Sweaty handscorrect
- Butterflies in the stomachcorrect
- Growing taller
A racing heart, sweaty hands, and butterflies in the stomach are body signs of emotion; growing taller is not.
- Fill the blankLevel 2
28. One early theory says your body reacts first and then you feel the emotion. It is the James-____ theory.
- Langecorrect
- Bard
- Freud
- Skinner
The James-Lange theory says we notice the body's reaction first and then feel the emotion.
- Match the pairsLevel 2
29. Match each emotion to a common way it shows on the face.
Answer: Happiness = Smiling; Sadness = Crying; Anger = Frowning; Fear = Wide eyes
Emotions often show on the face, like a smile for happiness or tears for sadness.
- Guess the numberLevel 3
30. About how many basic, universal emotions did Paul Ekman originally identify?
Answer: 6
Ekman described about six universal emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust.
Where these questions come from. Each unit starts as a plan of the concepts it should cover and the difficulty it should span. Questions are written against that plan with AI assistance, then checked by a validator that rejects anything without a single defensible answer, an explanation, or plausible wrong options. How we write questions sets out the whole process, and corrections are fixed in the bank and reach the site and the app the same day.
How you practise
This unit mixes 10 different question formats, so you are recalling and applying rather than recognising the same layout every time.
- Choose all that apply
- Fill the blank
- Guess the number
- Match the pairs
- Multiple choice
- Odd one out
- Put in order
- Sort into groups
- True or false
- Type the answer
Practise Motivation and Emotion
119 questions across 23 steps. Start with step one and crawl at your own pace.
Play this unitRead about Motivation and Emotion
Explainers from our blog on what this unit covers. Each one ends with real questions from the bank.
- What Is Intrinsic Motivation? Why Some Activities Feel Rewarding by ThemselvesLearn why interest, enjoyment, curiosity, and mastery can drive behaviour even when no external reward is offered.August 14, 2026 · 6 min read
- Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Explained SimplyMaslow's hierarchy of needs organises human motives from basic physical needs to growth and fulfilment. Learn the model, its uses, and its limits.August 17, 2026 · 6 min read
- Why Do We Procrastinate? The Psychology of Putting Things OffProcrastination is not laziness or poor time management; it is a way of escaping a bad feeling about a task. What drives it, and what has been shown to help.September 14, 2026 · 5 min read
- Set Better Goals: Aim at Actions, Not OutcomesGoals like get an A can leave you stuck, because you do not fully control the result. Process goals aim at the tiny daily actions you actually control.November 1, 2025 · 5 min read
More units in Psychology
- What is Psychology?What psychology studies and why we behave
- Feelings and EmotionsBasic emotions and how we handle them
- Senses and PerceptionHow we take in and make sense of the world
- MemoryHow we remember and why we forget
- Learning and HabitsHow we learn and form habits
- The Brain and BehaviorThe biology behind how we think and act
- How We GrowDevelopment across childhood and life
- Thinking and CognitionProblem solving, decisions and thinking traps