Are there three drivers of human behavior?
Some behavior is situational, some enigmatic, and some ideational. The first of the three is reactive. Given a stimulus, we respond sometimes consciously and at other times unconsciously. But we recognize the stimulus and the situation. The second is mysterious because we can’t fathom all that is operating: Combinations of biochemical processes, past experiences, desires, unidentified stimuli, habits (or addictions), and current emotional states might drive us to act, again both consciously and unconsciously. The third driver derives from personal philosophy and cultural conformity (or nonconformity).
Have I missed some categories? Would you enhance your life by knowing why you behave the way you do? If you answer "yes," then here's an assignment: Make your list of mutually exclusive categories of human behaviors and their causes.
Some behavior is situational, some enigmatic, and some ideational. The first of the three is reactive. Given a stimulus, we respond sometimes consciously and at other times unconsciously. But we recognize the stimulus and the situation. The second is mysterious because we can’t fathom all that is operating: Combinations of biochemical processes, past experiences, desires, unidentified stimuli, habits (or addictions), and current emotional states might drive us to act, again both consciously and unconsciously. The third driver derives from personal philosophy and cultural conformity (or nonconformity).
Have I missed some categories? Would you enhance your life by knowing why you behave the way you do? If you answer "yes," then here's an assignment: Make your list of mutually exclusive categories of human behaviors and their causes.
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