Motivations for Human Action

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Motivations for Human Action

• Stephen A. Rupard
• Marshall Elementary School

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MOTIVATIONS FOR ACTION

• RELIGION
• ECONOMICS
• OPPORTUNITY
• FREEEDOM
• EXPLORATION
• FORCE
• SURVIVAL

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Why do people take action?

• In human history people have done many things,
  gone many places, and explored the world and
  space.
• WHY?
• There are six basic motivations for humans to do
  anything.
• Sometimes motivations can work together to cause
  us to act

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RELIGION

• A persons individual beliefs and dedication to a
  religion is perhaps one of historys strongest
  motivators
• Some people, like the Pilgrims, will leave their
  homes for the opportunity to worship as they wish
• Other people, such as the Reverend Dr. Martin
  Luther King, Jr, gain strength from their
  religion
• Some people use their religion as an excuse for
  acting horribly toward other people (Native
  Americans vs. Manifest Destiny, the King of
  England vs. Protestants)

5
ECONOMICS

• Many, many human actions are persuaded by money
• Jamestown was founded as a base camp to search
  for gold in the New World
• Columbus set sail to find a route to Asia for
  trade
• The Spanish sent out armies to search for the
  Lost City of Gold

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OPPORTUNITY

• Many people would rather leave and start over
  somewhere else than stay in miserable conditions
• Others seek opportunity because other people are
  treating them poorly
• Sometimes there simply are no jobs, no food, no
  chance for a life in some countries/states/cities
• Moving may provide a better chance

7
FREEDOM

• Humans do not like being controlled
• Many will leave their homes for the chance to
  make their own choices
• Many people who live in countries with
  Kings/Queens or dictators will leave for the
  chance of freedom
• America became the symbol for freedom for people
  all over the world who came here to make their
  own decisions

8
EXPLORATION

• One of the most basic human traits is curiosity
• We gaze at the stars and wonder what they are
• We look at a mountain and wonder what is on the
  other side
• Christopher Columbus gazed at the ocean and
  wondered if it led to Asia
• Americans built a spaceship and landed on the
  moon to see what it was like

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FORCE

• Sometimes people are moved against their will
• Groups of people have been relocated, captured,
  or put into slavery
• These people certainly would not choose this life
• Examples African Slaves, Native American
  Reservations, Concentration Camps

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SURVIVAL