(Human behavior is a complex interplay of feelings, impulses and external factors that result in our behavior in any given situation. Something compels us to act in the face of a decision, reaction to a situation, or pursuit of a goal. But what are the hidden motivations of our behavior, specifically? What drives us to act certain way, often without even realising why we act? This article delves into the basic element that drives our behaviors the feeling of our actions all the way up to the psychological, emotional and social determinants of our decisions.
1. Biological Drives
On the most fundamental level, many of what we do is driven by our biology. One of the things that evolutionary psychology has taught us — and I think even skeptics should acknowledge — is that our very humanity is deeply grounded in survival, propagation and homeostasis. Because these drives are often subconscious.
- Hunger and Thirst: The body’s need for sustenance is one of the strongest drives. The feelings of hunger and thirst prompt us to act in order to satisfy the need. In the worst of situations, absence of food or water pushes people into disturbing extremes.
- Biological Drives: The need to reproduce is a biological motivator. The need to reproduce, the hunt for attractive others and sexual relationships are all instinctive pursuits as a way to sustain our species.
- Safety and Security: The instinct to protect ourselves from harm is one of the oldest human behaviors. Whether it’s seeking cover in the middle of a storm or fleeing from a dangerous animal, our bodies are programmed to respond to threats rapidly.
2. Psychological Drives
Although biology matters, so do psychological mechanisms. Internal mental and emotional states that develop over time as we respond to our past experiences, purity of desire and value systems also strongly influence what how we behave.
- Pleasure Seeking: The psychologist Sigmund Freud suggested that a lot of our behavior is motivated by the pleasure principle, which is our desire to pursue pleasure while avoiding pain. It can be seen in several ways when looking for immediate pleasure — attaining the most basic needs, or pushing toward long-term objectives, such as business success or wealth.
- Self-Actualization: The highest level of human motivation, according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. This is our drive to grow, excel and fulfill our potential. People motivated by self-actualization engage in activities that they feel are consistent with their inner core, or the values that give them purpose: artistic expression, the pursuit of knowledge or the desire to help others.
- Social and Emotional needs: Humans are social creatures, the need for connection and belonging has a profound influence on our behavior. Motivated emotions, like the need for love, companionship and approval, drive us to create attachments, engage in social groups and develop networks of support.
3. Cognitive and Rational Drives
Humans love logic, reasoning, need information as well. What we do is often colored by the conditioning of what we think, what we expect, and how we judge what we experience out there in the world.
- And these goals are one of the primary motivators of action: People plan, strategize, and work toward specific outcomes, be it academic accomplishment, career advancement, or personal achievement. Setting ourselves a goal plays into the cognitive abilities that we hold, and the actions we take are in pursuit of a clear end.
- Cognitive Dissonance — : We experience cognitive dissonance when we hold two or more beliefs or values that contradict one another. We can also reduce this cognitive dissonance by changing our behavior or rationalizing our behavior so that it is consistent with our beliefs.
- Learn and Discover: Another big motivator is the need to understand the world around us. As humans, we are naturally curious from the moment we are born; we want to explore, discover, and learn new things. It is this drive that is at the root of our love for learning and discovery.
4. Nature & Nurture: Social and Environmental Influences
We do not exist in a vacuum, and whatever we do, we are influenced by the environment, and society we are living in. We are all, conditioned by social factors and cultural norms, as well as external pressures.
- Socialization and peer influence: From a young age, we are conditioned to behave within the parameters of acceptable behaviors in our communities. Peer pressure, family expectations and social norms shape our decisions and behavior. Consciously or subconsciously, we are often motivated to act according to what we think other people expect of us.
- Cultural Values: Would you believe that different cultures value different aspects of life more? These represent the values that shape our understanding of success and the means with which we pursue them.
- Economic and Environmental Context: The economic features and environmental context also help shape our behavior. For instance, economic stability may push individuals towards taking jobs for which they feel no passion whereas eco-issues may compel individuals to adapt into a sustainable lifestyle.
5. Unconscious Drives
Most of the why reasons driving our doings lie veiled in the subconscious. To psychoanalytic theory, unconscious drives operate the greater part of our behavior that we do not know. Repressed memories, unresolved conflicts, or childhood experiences can all influence these hidden motives.
- Psychological Defense Mechanisms: When the mind feels threatened, it sometimes resorts to various psychological defense mechanisms, such as denial, repression, or projection, to protect the self from emotional pain. These mechanisms affect how we act, frequently without our conscious awareness.
- Surname Bias: There exists a hidden bias around the name which decides whether we are important folks or not. These biases can influence decisions unconsciously, resulting in behaviors consistent with entrenched stereotypes or prejudices.
Conclusion
There are various reasons why we do what we do — it involves an interplay between organic, psychological, socio-cultural and environmental concerns. Knowing the drivers behind human behavior gives us better insights into ourselves and others. Furthermore, it gives us the ability to give more consideration to what we say and do, offering us the chance to direct our behaviours in ways that are considerate of what we value and are hoping to create. We act based on a mix of biological needs, psychological desires, cognitive reasoning, and social influences in a complex interplay between our conscious intentions and unconscious drives.
