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Why People Do Things

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wtp

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Why People Do Things
A while back a few members from sythe and I came up with the three most basic reasons why someone would do something



Chapter 1: Why People do Things

People do things for three reasons and three reasons only: for entertainment, to not be in pain, and importance.

Let me attempt to explain these three:

Entertainment is given by the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Entertainment can be music you listen to, television you watch or the food you eat. Anything that stimulates your five senses in a desirable way is considered entertainment. Thinking can also provide entertainment, like reading a book that you process in your head, whatever gets your thoughts running in a desirable way.

To not be in pain is the most basic reason why someone would do something. A person would avoid a hot stove to not be burned. Someone would eat to not be hungry. Death is also included in not feeling pain; we do things not to die. To not be in pain just doesn't refer to physical pain alone, it also refers to emotional pain as well. We do things to make us not feel emotional pain, for example we do things to not be stressed or feel sorrow.

Importance
can be given in countless ways and I think it's the most influential out of the three. Feeling important mostly has to do with other people. Why do people donate money, play an instrument, win a game they do it to feel important.

There is actually one more reason why someone would do something. Which is by accident. I'm not going to concern myself with it though because its an accident - they didn't do it on purpose. Other than that though even the slightest moves we make go under these reasons.

We do everything in our best interest. Does that mean that everything we do is selfish though? No, it may be selfish or unselfish depending on how it affects other people.

For example, let's say you have homework to do and don't do it, than your parents get mad at you for not doing your homework. By doing that they might yell at you they might punish you, and than they'll be concerned about your grades... That puts stress on them, which by that makes you selfish. On the other hand lets say that you do your homework (In your own best interest of course, but its also in your parents best interest), that'll make your parents happy which is you being selfless.
​












No psychology or philosophy book recognizes these three reasons. Observing these reasons we can go farther to answer questions that will help us in our life.

Now what do people want in life?
- Friends
- Popularity
- BF/GF
- Wealth
- Others ways to feel important.

The words we use and in the tone we say it in will greatly affect what the person has to say and what they do.

Let me try to answer a question.

Why do people talk to each other?

People may talk to each other to not be in pain or entertainment but when talking on a friendly level you have a conversation for the feeling of importance. Now if we want friends we have to give a feeling of importance, if we don't no one will talk to you. There are two main ways to give out a feeling of importance when talking to someone which are caring, and respect. Caring is when you become genuinely interested in the other person. The better you can do that the more friends you will have. When it comes to popularity though you can be the most caring person in the world and people may still walk all over you. Respect is a reason you may talk to someone. Why do you think so many people try to suck up to mods and admins? Talking to people at a higher status and people that have already have a lot of people to talk to gives people a greater feeling of importance. People that mainly look to be friends with people based upon how respected they are, are generally weak minded people. If you are respected you will have a lot of friends but if you don't know how to care then you will have trouble getting close friends.


Topics to discuss later

How to become respected

Understanding the human personality

Humor



Please post what you think if you agree disagree and why.
 
Why People Do Things
I like where you're coming from. If you keep writing/expanding on what you have I think you could go a long way towards justifying your point.
 
Why People Do Things
I think the main reason why humans do anything is for their own personal gain. We talk to people to gain friendship or information, from friendship we can gain favours and entertainment. Even though you help out friends which may not instantly gain you anything, you know in the future that theres a high possibility that they'll repay you.

When i talk about everyone does things for personal gain i am not saying that anyone is selfish.
 
Why People Do Things
Um no.

There is only one reason for why we do things: motive, whether it be internal or external. Think about it, all of your reasons can fit into motive. Entertainment is a motive, not being in pain is a motive, and thinking something is important and therefore you must act on it is a motive.

You're welcome :)
 
Why People Do Things
I like where you're coming from. If you keep writing/expanding on what you have I think you could go a long way towards justifying your point.

Thank-you I will.

†Tyson†;3972834 said:
I think the main reason why humans do anything is for their own personal gain. We talk to people to gain friendship or information, from friendship we can gain favours and entertainment. Even though you help out friends which may not instantly gain you anything, you know in the future that theres a high possibility that they'll repay you.

When i talk about everyone does things for personal gain i am not saying that anyone is selfish.

I completely agree. I would even go as far as to say that everything we do is for a selfish reason.

Let's say you donate $5,000 to the red cross. You did it because the feeling of importance that you would get by donating that money outweighs how much you wanted the money, or you wouldn't have donated.


Um no.

There is only one reason for why we do things: motive, whether it be internal or external. Think about it, all of your reasons can fit into motive. Entertainment is a motive, not being in pain is a motive, and thinking something is important and therefore you must act on it is a motive.

You're welcome :)

I think we got the definition of importance confused. I abuse that word so much I feel that I give it another meaning. But what I mean by importance is anything that makes you feel good about yourself. Like being useful, having power, giving advice ect.
 
Why People Do Things
Thank-you I will.

I completely agree. I would even go as far as to say that everything we do is for a selfish reason.

Let's say you donate $5,000 to the red cross. You did it because the feeling of importance that you would get by donating that money outweighs how much you wanted the money, or you wouldn't have donated.


Aah, i'm starting to understand the thread more. What i said was incredibly broad, your trying to take these broad statements and combine them into a couple subgroups.


Um no.

There is only one reason for why we do things: motive, whether it be internal or external. Think about it, all of your reasons can fit into motive. Entertainment is a motive, not being in pain is a motive, and thinking something is important and therefore you must act on it is a motive.

You're welcome :)

What Wtp is trying to do is find out a motive for what though? He believes you are motivated to feel important, for entertainment of to be free of pain. What you said is correct that everything we do is a motive, but hes trying to be more specific since a "motive" is incredibly broad.
 
Why People Do Things
So when looking at why people do things, you are trying to break it down into categories based on what kind of motive it is?

I think I understand what you're saying.
 
Why People Do Things
Woo, elementary sociology

bore.
 
Why People Do Things
LOL? I think you mean psychology. Sociology is the study of people and society. This is definitely psychology lmao.

...and he is talking about people and how they interact in this community, or society

You've defeated yourself
 
Why People Do Things
...and he is talking about people and how they interact in this community, or society

You've defeated yourself

Jansen wins. Again. As always. Does.

Meh, I actually think this is quite interesting TBH, but it's already been kinda circulated around the 'net. You have a nice thesis, and a bit of evidence, but some evidence you use is kinda a stretch.

For example;
When you donate to the Red Cross, you do it to feel important

Wrong. Just plain wrong. I don't know about you selfish fucks, but when I donate to the Red Cross, I donate because I know my money will help somebody who needs it more than I do. I won't know who gets my money, so it's not like I get the personal satisfaction of saying "w00t I helped out this fucker. Go me!" No. I do it because I know that someone, somewhere, needs the money and support more than I do.
 
Why People Do Things
hmm nope, we're examining why people do things, meaning we have to look at behavior, motives, etc. which is generally internal, which means psychology.

Sociology is a completely different topic, and even though they may relate in some areas, this is definitely psychology.

Don't argue with a soc minor rofl
 
Why People Do Things
Wrong. Just plain wrong. I don't know about you selfish fucks, but when I donate to the Red Cross, I donate because I know my money will help somebody who needs it more than I do. I won't know who gets my money, so it's not like I get the personal satisfaction of saying "w00t I helped out this fucker. Go me!" No. I do it because I know that someone, somewhere, needs the money and support more than I do.

Psychologists have proven that there is no such thing as a selfless act. Absolutely EVERYTHING you do is for your own advancement and your own benefit, even if you think otherwise. You can't be so naive about this
 
Why People Do Things
Why People Do Things
To be remembered by others, to be looked up to, to be idolized. My sources are several psych (text)books that I have read.

:)
 
Why People Do Things
Woo, elementary sociology

bore.

I'm unhappy with the way psychology is taught. There are plenty of people who went to college studying psychology or sociology and still can't deal with people better than anyone else.

The goal for this research is to find out what are the perfect things to say in each situation and how we can do it.

If your bored no ones making you read this.

Psychologists have proven that there is no such thing as a selfless act. Absolutely EVERYTHING you do is for your own advancement and your own benefit, even if you think otherwise. You can't be so naive about this

I definitely agree. If we give money that is looked as an unselfish act. But say if we were to steal something that would be considered a selfish act. They are really both selfish acts but one is just considered morally good and the other is morally wrong.



I'm going to write some more. I have a lot of things in my head but I have difficulty writing them down.
 
Why People Do Things
Go Phil, I agree completely and you know that. We talk about this all the time but i still disagree that giving $5,000 to the Red Cross would be selfish. I mean of course you're going to get a feeling of importance from doing it, but the main definition of selfish is 'Concerned chiefly or only with oneself.' But giving to the Red Cross would be you being concerned about others.
 
Why People Do Things
If your bored no ones making you read this.



I definitely agree. If we give money that is looked as an unselfish act. But say if we were to steal something that would be considered a selfish act. They are really both selfish acts but one is just considered morally good and the other is morally wrong.

Thank you for having a brain and agreeing with me.

Good luck writing
 
Why People Do Things
Go Phil, I agree completely and you know that. We talk about this all the time but i still disagree that giving $5,000 to the Red Cross would be selfish. I mean of course you're going to get a feeling of importance from doing it, but the main definition of selfish is 'Concerned chiefly or only with oneself.' But giving to the Red Cross would be you being concerned about others.

In society it wouldn't be looked upon as selfish. But realistically your doing it for your own personal gain, so wouldn't that be selfish? Does it mean that its bad? No its a good selfish.

Thank you for having a brain and agreeing with me.

Good luck writing

Thank you for thinking logically.
 
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