Summary: Experts analyzed human inspiration from an evolutionary perspective, identifying 15 important motivations that drive actions. These intentions, grouped into five categories—environmental, physiological, biological, psychological, and social—reflect adjustments that helped first people survive.
The investigation used community analysis of survey responses to show how these emotions interact and have an impact on one another. Importantly, Status and Play emerged as key to inspiring structures, facilitating source exposure and ability advancement.
Additionally, the findings revealed that inspiring objectives for both ages and genders differ depending on age and gender. The benefits have broad applications in advertising, AI, and emotional wellbeing, helping tailor approaches to various motivational needs.
Important Information:
- 15 Core Motives: People behavior is driven by economic, physiological, sexual, emotional, and social intentions.
- Status &, Play Are Central: These intentions influence various actions, shaping tool access and agility.
- Age &, Gender Variations: Younger persons prioritize Status and Play, while older people rely on Comfort and Anxiety.
Cause, HSE
Therapists have long been interested in understanding what drives people behavior. To evaluate these core motives, various methods are employed. The most well-known hypothesis is Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, introduced in the mid-20th era.
However, most reaches emphasise the cultural aspects of inspiration while overlooking its biological origins.  ,  ,
A group of HSE University and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine researchers came up with the idea to examine human behavior motivations from an evolutionary standpoint.
All intentions are viewed as evolutionary adaptations that improved early people ‘ ability to survive in their surroundings, and they continue to have an impact on behavior in the proposed model.
The scientists start off with the idea that if some biological mechanisms after triggered particular behaviors, the underlying motivations can be identified using regular psychometric methods.  ,
To accomplish this, the study authors conducted an online poll with over 500 members who were asked to rate 150 remarks concerning their common interests, fears, wishes, and cultural aspirations.
The statements were based on previously identified motivations from other research reflecting physical, sexual, or social needs, such as ‘ I enjoy going on wheel coasters,’ ‘ Eating is less important to me than it seems to be for most people,’ and ‘ I spend a lot of time staying in touch with my buddies,’ among others.
Using network analysis, the researchers identified stable clusters of motives. The study found that human behaviour is driven by 15 key motives, which can be grouped into five broad categories: environmental ( Hoard, Create ), physiological ( Fear, Disgust, Hunger, Comfort ), reproductive ( Lust, Attract, Love, Nurture ), psychological ( Curiosity, Play ), and social ( Affiliate, Status, Justice ).  ,
Additionally, the researchers discovered that there are functional connections between motives, which would help us understand how motivational structures work. Justice, for instance, has close ties to Nurture and Curiosity, which suggests that it is a result of both a need to stay informed about where anti-social behavior might be occurring and a result of concern for the welfare of others.  ,
Interestingly, the motives of Play and Status emerged as pivotal points of connectivity, interacting extensively with other nodes, suggesting they influence a broad range of related motives.
Status seems to be significant because it makes it easier to accomplish other goals by giving you access to resources that increase your chances of success in life, including attracting a partner.
Maintaining status involves hoarding resources, fearing the loss of these resources, and effectively using them in various situations. The motive of play, in turn, helps develop the skills needed to maintain status and adapt to changing circumstances.
Albina Gallyamova
‘ Using network-based psychometric techniques, we were able to observe how motives interrelate. For instance, the networks ‘ intentions for Love and Nurture are closely related, which makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint, since caring for children increases their chances of survival.
Conversely, the motives of Fear and Curiosity often have opposing effects. Fear keeps us away from danger, but when excessive, it can suppress curiosity, which fosters knowledge and innovation,’ explains , Albina Gallyamova, Junior Research Fellow at the , HSE Centre for Sociocultural Research.
The study also revealed age- and gender-related variations in the significance of different motives. Men are more likely to concentrate on the interests of Status and Attraction while women tend to show a greater interest in the causes of Nurture and Comfort. These differences are attributed to the traditional roles that men and women played in the evolution of our species, according to the researchers.  ,
Age also contributes to shaping our priorities. Younger people tend to be more focused on Status and Play, while older people’s concerns and concern for comfort gain more weight. These changes reflect different life stages: initially, we strive to secure our place in society, and later, we focus on safety and survival,’ adds Gallyamova.
The findings of the study can be useful in a variety of fields, including IT and marketing. For example, in advertising, understanding the motives of different social groups allows for more precise and effective communication.
Youth focused on Status and Play are more likely to respond to incentives related to prestige and entertainment, while a more mature audience prioritises safety, reliability, and comfort.
Understanding evolutionary motivations in the field of AI makes it possible to have a more human-centric approach, allowing younger users to play games and socialize, while focusing on convenience and simplicity for the older generation.
In therapy, understanding the underlying motives can help provide a more accurate response to the client’s needs. For instance, addressing anxiety can help strike a balance between curiosity and safety by incorporating the evolutionary mechanism of avoiding danger.  ,
‘ Ultimately, understanding the evolutionary motives that drive our behaviour enables us to create solutions that make people’s lives more comfortable, safer, and more interesting,’ explains Gallyamova.
About this news about behavioral neuroscience research
Author: Liudmila Mezentseva
Source: HSE
Contact: Liudmila Mezentseva – HSE
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
” Network psychometric-based identification and structural analysis of a set of evolved human motives” by Albina Gallyamova et al. Personality and Individual Differences
Abstract
Network psychometric-based identification and structural analysis of a set of evolved human motives
Since the beginning of psychology, the discipline has been attempting to develop a limited set of human-like motives. To establish the existence of a predetermined set of human motives, this paper applies a network-based analysis of previously published psychometric data.
The set was created by applying evolutionary theory to the categories of goals that people need to achieve in the niche where our species evolved to live.
Based on responses to 150 items provided by a 510 representative UK residents who responded online, the analysis presented here is based.
Analysis reveals that all fifteen of the identified motives can be separate, that they exhibit expected relationships to one another ( based on common functionality ), and that differences in gender-responsiveness to motives reflect traditional gender-based role-play during human evolution, while age differences are in line with expectations from life history theory.
A genetic algorithm-based analysis could serve as the foundation for the reduced set of 45 items.
Knowing the set of motives behind goal-directed behaviour should prove a significant boon to a wide variety of psychological applications, including human relations, educational strategies, marketing and behaviour change.
