final project post - and i bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight.

In reading this book, I learned a lot of official terminology for my everyday experiences.  For example, the simple joy I receive from stretching out a dough ball in order to make a pizza is my motive for going to work, and my paycheck is my incentive for dealing with the stress and heat I deal with at work.  Also, I have previously blogged that my daughter keeps me motivated to do things I need to do, such as finish school, as well as keeping me motivated to not do things I want to do, such as party and b.s.  In other words, to provide her with a happy and healthy life, I am pushed to graduate college and pulled from being a bar rat (which is beneficial for everyone).

One new idea I learned from this book is the idea that motivation is part of human nature and has evolved over the centuries in order for humans to survive.  The strive for sweet foods is beneficial for humans to desire caloric foods that give us nutrition.  Also, the rejection of bitter food comes from the fact that poisons are bitter, which aided in human survival.  To view human motivations as a survival of the fittest adaptation is not only interesting, but it is a genius thought derived from the observation of animals.  It may only be a theory, but I am buying what they are selling.

The thing I found most interesting in this book is the fact that motivation has been theorized by philosophers since Aristotle, and probably even before that.  Not only were they thinking about motivation, but they were using terminology to explain the way they felt and why they wanted to do the activities they wanted to do.  It is truly common sense that when your stomach is growling, you are hungry, but to give that feeling an official terminology is advanced thinking.  Also, from using these urges and describing why they happen and what they make you do, these ancient philosophers were trying to use these thoughts to correct negative behavior.

This class was interesting and I am glad I took it.  Thanks!