Motivation and emotion

The subject matter of motivation and emotion includes the major topics of drive reduction theory, approach-avoidance conflict, Yerkes-Dodson law, theories of emotion, and stress. While motivation and emotion is not a huge chapter, compared to some of the others in psychology, the section on theories of emotion is what an extrinsically motivated person might call "high yield". It would be a big mistake to go into the exam without a good sense of the respective roles played by physiological arousal and cognitive attribution within the James Lange, Schachter Singer, and Cannon Bard theories of emotion.

The Yerkes-Dodson law and the study of stress are also important for the exam. However, those subjects are not only important for the exam, they are important in the exam. Yerkes-Dodson law teaches you, for example, that the optimal state for a difficult task like the MCAT is moderately low arousal. Learn how to cultivate a state of calm, engaged immersion for the MCAT. Practice as you work through question pack and section bank. If you feel your skin tingling or your breath getting short, take a four-four-four breath. Close your eyes and breathe in slowly for four seconds. Hold it for four seconds. Breathe out slowly for four seconds. It works!