Freda’s case revolves around the dilemma of whether to accept a job offer from a modeling firm in London or to continue studying biochemistry. Both choices are complicated by numerous familial and personal factors. Analysis of motivational and emotional aspects will provide deeper insight into Freda’s decision-making. Understanding the primary factors driving Freda’s desire to agree or decline the offer is essential in ascertaining the incentives and drawbacks of each of her choices.
The most important factor pushing Freda to accept the job in London is her relationship with her mother. Freda has the desire to help her mother manage financial difficulties. The family has a house, which is either under the threat of being seized or is already not in familial possession. The offer from the modeling firm has the potential to solve this issue due to high compensation. Considering her current situation, it is likely that such opportunities are rare in Freda’s life. Therefore, the ongoing foreclosure and the opportune moment to resolve this problem create an urgency factor that motivates Freda to agree to the offer.
Another important factor is her awareness of her capability to accomplish the set goal. Freda’s job is high-paying, which means that her financial situation will improve enough for her to be able to help her mother end the foreclosure. Furthermore, Freda knows that she can do the job since she has four years of modeling experience. It is also reasonable to suggest that she actually enjoys being a model since she has already spent a considerable amount of time and effort in this profession. Therefore, there is also an intrinsic motivation that drives her to accept the job.
However, there is also a strong emotional aversion that might influence Freda to decline an offer. First, Freda suffers from bulimia, which is likely to accentuate her eating problems due to the demanding nature of the modelling profession, thus evoking a basic emotion – fear (Coon & Mitterer, 2013). Second, Freda is a shy person who values her privacy. Meanwhile, a modeling job will deprive her of some freedom, which also leads to apprehension. Finally, her physical condition, complicated by bulimia, will probably invite criticism of her attractiveness. Combined with Freda’s natural shyness, expected affirmations of her insufficient body attractiveness may discourage her from agreeing to the offer.
As a result, both choices have three incentives and three drawbacks for Freda. The incentives for accepting the job are the mother’s approval, the ability to eliminate foreclosure, and the urgency of both financial issues and the job offer. The drawbacks of doing it are deprivation of privacy, fear of public criticism, and deterioration of her eating disorder. At the same time, the incentives for declining an offer are the ability to continue her highly-effective studies, the ability to maintain privacy, and freedom from body criticism. The drawbacks of declining the offer are the mother’s disapproval, continued foreclosure, and a missed job opportunity.
In conclusion, the incentives and drawbacks of each choice are based on Freda’s conflicting motivations and emotions. In this case, there is no internal deficiency in Freda’s body. Nevertheless, she does enter an energized motivational state due to the high incentive value of Freda’s mother’s freedom from foreclosure. Therefore, it is not biological nor a stimulus motive but rather a learned motive (Coon & Mitterer, 2013). The ultimate decision will depend on Freda’s ability to manage her emotional aversion to the difficulties associated with taking a modeling job with her medical condition.
Reference
Coon, D., & Mitterer, J. O. (2013). Motivation and Emotion. In D. Coon & J. Mitterer (Eds.), Psychology: A Journey (5th ed., pp. 355-398). Wadsworth.