I work for a firm that does research for companies planning to expand or relocate in foreign countries. In order to make certain predictions, we needed a behavioral model and turned to the social sciences to find one. We found models, all right, lots and lots of them—such a dizzying array of models that we became far more confused than enlightened. So, we decided to construct our own. I won’t bore you with the process.
The motivator for our model is what we labeled the Will, (capitalized to avoid confusion with its more common usage) and is defined as a strong, fixed purpose or determination for self-gratification. This definition is actually derived from the basic survival behaviors found in Paul D. MacLean’s R-complex of the brain. Each behavior requires some effort or determination on the part of the animal and, if successful, each behavior results in some form of self-gratification (i.e. restoring, maintaining or enhancing well-being—as perceived by the animal, not the observer.)
In animals that have the ability to learn—to associate cause and effect (relative to the Will) and the memory to recall this association—learning can serve as a modifier of the Will. In humans, for instance, we can develop concepts (belief systems or memes) that actually define what constitutes well-being. Thus, the pattern and consistency of behavior rests with the type of belief systems/memes an individual learns, what priority they are given, and how deeply these belief systems are ingrained.
I sometimes use the analogy of a cannonball and the cannon barrel to describe the relationship between nature (self-organizing?) and nurture (interactive?) . Nature—the Will—is the cannonball and it’s going to fly through the air. But, it is nurture—learning—that determines the cannonball’s trajectory.
Our model works like a champ in making predictions. With your interest in behavioral motivation, perhaps you will find this bit of it useful.
Lee