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Need for Arousal

 

Explanations > Needs > Arousal

Hot and coldPreferences | So what?

 

One of our deepest needs is for a sense of arousal where we are stimulated and 'feeling alive' in a 'hot' state. In this state we are energized in in any combination of cognitive, affective and physical arousal.

Hot and cold

Our emotions can described with a hot and cold temperature metaphor, where 'hot' is aroused and 'cold' is not aroused. A hot state is related to high levels of interest, emotion or activity. In a cold state we may be bored, flat and lethargic.

Preference

We each may have particular preferences for different types of arousal. Some will seek the cerebral arousal of thinking and learning. Others find pleasure in physical activity. And each leads to different emotions. This can also lead to different personality types based on the desire for arousal and internal thresholds.

In a dysfunctional sense, some people get stuck in unhelpful arousal, such as being a victim or self-harming. Children at school may also decide that learning is not cool and so shun intellectual arousal.

So what?

Arousal is the basic motivated state which is good for persuasion as you can tap this basic desire. 

When persuading people, consider how they are aroused now and how you want that state to change. Do you want them to feel intellectually stimulated? What about being emotionally charged (and maybe more unthinking)? Do you want them to physically act, to get up and do something?

Seek ways to manage how they are aroused (or not, as you need). Stimulate them or calm them down as appropriate.

See also

Arousal, Curiosity, Novelty, Fight-or-Flight reaction, Games

 

 

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