Somewhat CEP-R: What motivates us?

[aw]

This topic brought me out of lurkdom. Really interesting answers. I had to respond because 2V said no one mentioned love. Love was actually my first response, kind of. I think people are primarily motivated by a desire to be loved by other people. Some people equate love with admiration, so they work really hard so they can get all of the accolades that make them feel loved. It's what makes children do what they do - the desire to be loved by their parents. It makes others act out sexually, because they equate love with physical touch.

I think this is what is at the core of religion too. At the heart of it we all realize that there is no one on earth that is able to love us in the way we truly need them to, so we search for the love elsewhere. God fills that need for people when they find Him.

[marie427]

Aug 9, 2012 9:15:26 GMT -5 ChillyMcFreeze said:

Aug 9, 2012 9:11:09 GMT -5 MrsDL said:

I think fear - it think it is at the root of the other things mentioned - one's desire to seek power, for example, probably stems from the fact that power can bring control. And if you have control, you can try and avoid what you fear (poverty, a political position, etc.). Same thing with selfishness. I think people are selfish because they fear being without something.

This is what I think, though I would reverse it and say all other motivations come from a need for power. With power we can eliminate the things we fear, we gain acceptance, we have the means to get pleasure, etc.

Get out of my head, Chilly.

[dylanite]

Good to see you, AW!

Money, Compliments and Publicity. For some.

[2vermont]

Aug 10, 2012 7:05:12 GMT -5 aw said:

This topic brought me out of lurkdom. Really interesting answers. I had to respond because 2V said no one mentioned love. Love was actually my first response, kind of. I think people are primarily motivated by a desire to be loved by other people. Some people equate love with admiration, so they work really hard so they can get all of the accolades that make them feel loved. It's what makes children do what they do - the desire to be loved by their parents. It makes others act out sexually, because they equate love with physical touch.

I think this is what is at the core of religion too. At the heart of it we all realize that there is no one on earth that is able to love us in the way we truly need them to, so we search for the love elsewhere. God fills that need for people when they find Him.

Hey AW. I would suggest, however, that the desire to be loved at its core is also a sefish desire. It can be used for good, but I think it comes down to a "I want......"

[Deleted]

eh, I think love is selfish too. If you want the best for someone you love, over someone you don't, that is still selfish.

At the end, we are inherently selfish. but all animals are.

[2vermont]

Aug 10, 2012 7:21:45 GMT -5 @irishbride said:

eh, I think love is selfish too. If you want the best for someone you love, over someone you don't, that is still selfish.

At the end, we are inherently selfish. but all animals are.

But not nearly as selfish as cats. :-)

[aw]

Aug 10, 2012 7:19:56 GMT -5 2vermont said:

Aug 10, 2012 7:05:12 GMT -5 aw said:

This topic brought me out of lurkdom. Really interesting answers. I had to respond because 2V said no one mentioned love. Love was actually my first response, kind of. I think people are primarily motivated by a desire to be loved by other people. Some people equate love with admiration, so they work really hard so they can get all of the accolades that make them feel loved. It's what makes children do what they do - the desire to be loved by their parents. It makes others act out sexually, because they equate love with physical touch.

I think this is what is at the core of religion too. At the heart of it we all realize that there is no one on earth that is able to love us in the way we truly need them to, so we search for the love elsewhere. God fills that need for people when they find Him.

Hey AW. I would suggest, however, that the desire to be loved at its core is also a sefish desire. It can be used for good, but I think it comes down to a "I want......"

I agree. But what if all of our selfish desires are really just an attempt to fill that void that we are trying to fill with love (and that people like you and I believe can only be filled with God). You want to be really rich - I think it's really because you want people to love you for your wealth. You want to be prettier or skinnier - it's because you want people to love you for your beauty. You want more power - it's because you want people to admire, respect and love you for that power.

[aw]

Aug 10, 2012 7:08:37 GMT -5 dylanite said:

Good to see you, AW!

You too!