15 Key Motives Drive Human Behavior

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 5 broad categories:

1. environmental (Hoard, Create)
2. physiological (Fear, Disgust, Hunger, Comfort)
3. reproductive (Lust, Attract, Love, Nurture),
4. psychological (Curiosity, Play), and
5. social (Affiliate, Status, Justice). 

The researchers also identified functional relationships between motives, contributing to a deeper understanding of motivational structures.

For example, Justice has strong ties to Nurture and Curiosity, suggesting that it is a function of both concern for the welfare of others and a need to keep abreast of where anti-social behaviours might be occurring. 

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 appears to be important as it facilitates the attainment of other goals by providing access to resources that enhance the 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.

Using network-based psychometric techniques, researchers were able to observe how motives interrelate. For instance, the motives of Love and Nurture are positioned close to each other in the network, which makes sense from an evolutionary perspective, as caring for offspring enhances 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.

The study also revealed age- and gender-related variations in the significance of different motives. Women tend to show a greater interest in the motives of Nurture and Comfort, while men are more likely to focus on the motives of Status and Attraction. The researchers note that these differences are linked to the traditional roles men and women played in our evolutionary past. 

Age also contributes to shaping our priorities. Younger individuals tend to be more focused on Status and Play, while as people age, Fear and concern for Comfort become more prominent. These changes reflect different life stages: initially, we strive to secure our place in society, and later, we focus on safety and survival.

Analysis shows that all 15 of the identified motives can be isolated, that they show expected relationships to one another (based on common functionality), and that differences in attentiveness to motives by gender reflect traditional gender-based role-play during human evolution, while differences by age are consistent with expectations from life history theory.

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.