The basic desires of every human being, which drive their behavior and for which they work, can be understood through psychological theories such as Steven Reiss's 16 Basic Desires Theory and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
16 Basic Desires (Steven Reiss's Theory)
Steven Reiss identified 16 fundamental desires that motivate human behavior, which nearly all meaningful human actions aim to satisfy. These desires are genetically based for the most part and include:
- Power: Desire for achievement, competence, and leadership
- Independence: Desire for freedom and self-reliance
- Curiosity: Hunger for knowledge and truth-seeking
- Acceptance: Desire for self-worth and positive self-image
- Order: Desire for stability and organization
- Saving: Desire to collect and own property
- Honor: Desire for morality and loyalty
- Idealism: Desire for fairness and justice
- Social Contact: Desire for friendship and fun
- Family: Desire to raise children and nurture loved ones
- Status: Desire for wealth, titles, and recognition
- Vengeance: Desire to win and respond to injustice
- Romance: Desire for beauty, sex, and intimacy
- Eating: Desire for food and sustenance
- Physical Exercise: Desire for fitness and vitality
- Tranquility: Desire for relaxation and safety
People differ in how strongly they prioritize these desires, which shapes their goals and motivations
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow's model organizes human needs into a hierarchy, where more basic needs must be met before higher-level needs become motivating:
- Physiological needs: food, water, shelter, and bodily sustenance
- Safety needs: security, job stability, and protection from harm
- Love and belonging: friendship, family, and social connections
- Esteem: respect, status, and self-esteem
- Self-actualization: achieving one's potential and personal growth
This hierarchy explains that humans work to satisfy these needs progressively, starting from survival to psychological fulfillment and self-realization
Summary
Humans are motivated by a combination of basic desires and needs, including:
- Survival needs like eating and safety
- Social desires such as family, acceptance, and social contact
- Psychological drives like curiosity, power, and esteem
- Higher aspirations such as fairness, honor, and self-actualization
These desires and needs underlie why people work, strive, and make choices in life. The specific mix and priority of these desires vary individually but are universal in human experience
