Introduction Simply stated, motivation is our drive and reasons for acting a certain way. Motivation is a more complex concept than it may appear at first glance. It has many layers; our self-perceptions, emotions, physiology, and more all play a role. What drives one person to persevere through challenges when others may give up? What do our self-perceptions have to do with perseverance? Can our self-perceptions affect us without our awareness? How does our bodily experience influence and reflect our motivation? Motivation prompts action—actions are our performance. Why do we do what we do? You'll explore many of the dimensions that underlie our motivation and performance as you move through this course. Throughout this course, each assessment takes place within an evolving scenario. The scenario provides opportunity to engage with different aspects of the motivational process and analyze or reflect on the experience. For the best experience (staying within the story's timeline), complete the assessments in order. Preparation Scenario Commencement is here! You did it! You’re dropped off at the Highend Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. “Welcome to Commencement” signs decorate the lobby and folks in Capella t-shirts with name tags sit behind various information tables. Two harried employees work the check-in desk while fellow graduates and other travelers talk as they stand in line. Outside, thunder rumbles and lightning crashes as Atlanta experiences what is being called “the storm of the century.” Of course, it might just be the fifth “storm of a century” this year. No one seems to be paying much attention to the weather. Submission Requirements Written communication: Written communication is professional, with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics. Resources: Use a minimum of three sources: your textbook and two peer-reviewed journal articles from the Capella University Library. APA formatting: References and citations are formatted according to APA style and formatting. Use Academic Writer for guidance in citing sources and formatting your paper in proper APA style. See the Writing Center for more APA resources specific to your degree level. Length: 1–2 typed pages. Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point. I can’t believe we’re short-staffed again,” you hear an employee staff member say as they walk past you. “I heard people called in sick to protest the pay cut.” You’ve checked into your room at Highend Hotel and unpacked. Commencement activities don’t start until tomorrow, so you have this evening free. Your stomach grumbles and you realize that you haven’t eaten today. You go back to the lobby and look around for a restaurant. The sound of a large explosion startles you and then the hotel goes dark. A couple of people scream, and someone bumps into you. Looking out the hotel windows, you can see the whole area has lost power. Even with the storm, there’s enough light coming through the window that you can see the others in the lobby standing around. 48 hours later… Highend Hotel and the surrounding area have been without power for 48 hours. Most Highend employees have left, and the few remaining employees have been at the hotel for the last two days without a break. Due to commencement, all the rooms are full. Much of the food in the kitchen has gone bad, and Highend Hotel is running low on canned foods. Water is available on the main floor, but no water flows to the upper floors. Guests have grown increasingly stressed, and outright physical fights have broken out a few times. You know about motivation and physiological mechanisms, so you want to draft a quick bulletin to send out while everyone still has battery life in their cell phones. Step 1: Choose one of the following topics: Sleep: Hotel employees have been unable to sleep. Stress: Employees and guests are stressed. Hunger: Employees and guests are experiencing hunger as the hotel tries to ration its remaining food supply. Thirst: Employees and guests are thirsty due to the long lines to access water. Step 2: Identify at least one physiological or biological theory of motivation. Step 3: In the Capella University Library, find two peer-reviewed journal articles related to your topic and/or theory of motivation. Competencies Measured By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria: Competency 1: Relate concepts of human motivation to performance. Describe the biological mechanisms of a selected topic. Explain how the situation motivates human performance (behaviors). Competency 2: Apply scientific reasoning to psychological phenomena. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of one physiological or biological theory related to the selected topic. Use scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles that relate to the selected theory and topic. Competency 3: Employ optimal problem solving strategy on problems in human motivation and performance. Describe the primary problem. Provide a solution to the problem that focuses on motivational factors. Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology. Use APA style formatting for citations and reference list with only minor errors. Address assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.