Sam Glucksberg - On Motivation

Sam Glucksberg, a professor emeritus from Princeton University, discusses his research on motivation in tasks. He explains that high motivation improves performance in easy tasks but hinders it in difficult ones. The candle experiment by Karl Duncker is used to illustrate how motivation affects problem-solving, showing that people struggle to see alternative uses for objects when highly motivated.

What is the primary effect of high motivation on easy tasks?

• It has no effect.

• It improves performance.

• It makes tasks more difficult.

• It makes people work slower.

According to the psychological law discussed, what happens when motivation is high for difficult tasks?

• It causes people to persist in incorrect methods.

• It has no impact on task performance.

• It leads to more creative solutions.

• It helps solve the task faster.

Who developed the Candle Experiment?

• B.F. Skinner

• Sam Glucksberg

• Sigmund Freud

• Karl Duncker

In the Candle Experiment, what is the common mistake people make when the box is full of thumbtacks?

• They light the candle first.

• They ignore the box as a separate object.

• They use the box as a platform.

• They use the matchbook incorrectly.

What is the correct solution when the box is full of thumbtacks in the Candle Experiment?

• Stack the thumbtacks on the candle.

• Empty the box and use it as a platform.

• Use the matchbook to hold the candle.

• Light the candle and let it drip on the table.