Why We Do What We Do: A Biopsychosocial Theory of Human Motivation
Author(s)
Walter, R. Gove
Abstract
This article presents an outline of a theory of human motivation that draws on biological, psychological, and social processes. It focuses on the following issues: (1) the intrinsic unpredictability of the world that people experience, (2) the innate and noninnate differences in the attributes of individuals, (3) the premise that persons can reasonably be viewed as responsible for their actions, (4) the importance of a meaningful life and how this life is obtained, (5) reformulating learning theory by including the principle that behavior activates a physiologic process that is intrinsically rewarding, a process that raises questions about basic suppositions of symbolic interactionism, cognitive psychology, and rational choice theory, (6) the causes and consequences of gender differences in instrumental and nurturant behavior, (7) an examination of why the positive states of psychological well-being are often associated with a high level of stress and a lack of personal control, (8) the process of adult psychological maturation, which indicates that as persons age they become more contented with their lives and more concerned with the well-being of others, and (9) the limitations of the concept of “agency” in structuration theory, as it is not attentive to the differences among individuals in their capabilities, personalities, and unique life experiences.
