Why do we do the things we do?

Psychology offers us a group of standard motivations, such as survival, pleasure, autonomy, purpose/meaning, love/connection, reputation/respect, success, and power/control.

The darker side of human motivation, particularly when our drives go unchecked, can include competition, envy, lack of empathy, materialism, power, control, validation, and personal gain.

The way human beings express these motivations can vary according to our innate biology, our learned behaviors, and the intensity of our desires. But the bottom line comes down to this: we are what we most value. Our core values largely determine our motivations.

We as human beings can overcome much of our past, our learned behaviors, our urges, and our impulses when we prioritize our values to guide us.[1]

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