Key Messages
Unlock Your True Potential: An Exploration Of Our Primitive Drives
Within the pages of Driven, you will learn about four drives that influence our behavior and how you may be able to direct them.
These drives are inherent in our genes, passed down from early ancestors who needed survival skills.
The problem is that today’s world has changed to a degree where these ancient drives no longer work for us – leading to irrational decisions and choices we regret.
However, if understood correctly, these drives can be a powerful tool for guiding our behaviour towards success.
Through examining case studies and learning the strategies described in Driven, you can better understand how you can influence your four drives – fight/flight/fairness/foraging – to drive positive outcomes in both your professional and personal life.
The Great Leap: How A Larger Brain Led To The Development Of Unique Human Representational Systems
Scientists don’t fully understand why the human brain evolved to become so complex, but there are several theories that attempt to explain the Great Leap of humanity from a few million years ago.
It is believed that this evolutionary shift began between 75,000 and 100,000 years ago which marked the start of humans developing more advanced hunting techniques, building their own shelters and even decorating them— something other species had never done before.
One theory suggests that this shift was due to a larger size for our brains.
While most ape brains are around one third the size of ours, our brains contain three representational systems: episodic memory (shared with other animals), mimetic system (which allow us to learn by copying others) and mythic and theoretic systems (developed along language).
These two last systems enabled us to share knowledge and store it in writing which ultimately made us much more knowledgeable than any other species.
Regardless of which theory is correct, what remains clear is that humans still have a great deal to discover about how our intelligence developed over time – but regardless, its complexity has certainly help propel us forward.
The Four Drives Of Human Behavior May Explain The Great Leap Forward
The theory of the four drives is a compelling explanation for the motivations behind human behavior.
This theory posits that there are four drives that determine our decisions: the drive to acquire, the drive to bond, the drive to learn, and the drive to defend.
It suggests that prior to the Great Leap Forward in evolution, when humans were starting to become more sophisticated in terms of language and memory systems, humans were primarily motivated by these two drives: acquiring food and defending themselves.
However, during this great leap forward humans started learning from each other and forming bonds that strengthened their communities – which resulted in an edge up on other living creatures.
As a result, we now have an innate sense for which environments we should live in; something which has been proven through studies such as one that presented photos of different environments and asked participants where they would most like to live.
These four drives explain how humans began taking decisions differently from other animals – something which can still be observed today.
Understanding this powerful concept even better can help us make better decisions going forward in life!
The Drive To Acquire Intensifies Our Irrational Behavior
The drive to acquire motivates us to seek out material goods and social status.
This drive is so strong that it can sometimes overpower our rational thinking.
For example, we might buy a Ferrari even though it provides no practical benefit – it’s simply a symbol of status.
Our ancestors may not have had Ferraris, but they still found ways to display their social standing – such as getting to eat first at the dinner table.
This gave them a better chance at surviving, and the desire for such privileges is still within us today.
Even when offered ten dollars in one study, the research participant’s partner would often turn down the money if it was less than four dollars.
This seems irrational considering they’d be giving up free cash, but this just shows our desire to always have more than those around us – even if it means losing out on something beneficial in the process.
The Dyadic Instinct: How Our Drive To Bond Can Lead To Conflict And Persecution
According to the book Driven, all humans are born with a desire to form relationships and bond with those around them.
This need was hard-wired into our DNA as it provided an evolutionary advantage: by bonding with family and friends, it increased our chances of reproducing successfully.
The human drive to bond goes beyond simply feeling happy when we’re surrounded by loved ones – it also motivates us in our personal pursuits.
Consider how the allure of competitive team sports is driven both by our desire for bonding, as well as for accomplishment.
Sometimes this need can come into conflict with other motivations – like when deciding which employee to fire during times of financial distress.
It’s up to you, then, as in any decision of this nature, to consciously decide which priority takes precedence.
Our human drive to bond can sometimes have a damaging effect too.
We may feel special that we belong to one group or another, but this perspective can lead us to perceive others who are not like us as adversarial in conflicts – an instinct known as the dyadic impulse.
Unfortunately, where the dyadic instinct grows unchecked it can manifest itself in forms such discrimination and persecution.
The Power Of Curiosity: How The Desire To Learn Enhances Our Lives
It is a well-known fact that all humans have an inherent drive to learn, pushing us to satisfy our curiosity.
This phenomenon is known as the information gap: when we take in knowledge that we don’t already have, it creates an uncomfortable feeling inside us and we strive to close this gap.
A great example of this is when your friend performs a funny magic trick, and you become immediately curious as to how they did it.
This information gap causes you to bug them until they tell you the secret – something we can all relate to!
Scientists all agree that this drive is universal, reflected in creation myths and stories since ancient times.
It allows us to make predictions about the future, work more efficiently and remember mistakes so as not to repeat them.
This makes working much more enjoyable for employees – even learning while doing their job!
Companies are now recognizing this tendency and encouraging knowledge acquisition from staff members in order strengthen the workplace environment.
The Drive To Defend: How Our Instincts Protect Us And Can Lead To War If Left Unchanneled
When we are faced with danger, our primal drive to defend kicks in.
Whether the threat is to our possessions or relationships, this instinctive reaction prepares us for action.
It causes an increase in heart rate and muscle tension so that we can flee from any danger or confront it head-on if needed.
While this drive can be useful in short-term survival situations, its dark side is seen in wars and conflicts between nations.
This often starts off as a struggle over resources but then evolves as each side seeks to protect its assets and people.
Conflict only ends when each group realizes that they can satisfy their needs without having to fight each other.
However, humanity is evolving beyond just looking out for their own groups.
Through international trade and cooperation, we now recognize the benefit of working together for mutual gain rather than relying on defensive strategies such as war.
The increasing size of political structures such as the United States and the European Union also encourage us to consider all people as members of one human family instead of competing teams.
How The Four Drives Work Together To Influence Our Behavior
Our behavior is largely determined by our drives and emotions.
Our drives determine how we respond to external events, while our emotions guide us in the decisions that we make.
For example, when you observe something – like a bike on sale that you’ve always wanted – your reaction is driven by your drives.
The information gets processed through your limbic system, connecting the activation of certain drives with corresponding emotions.
Then the information is sent to the prefrontal cortex of your brain so you can make an informed decision about how to act on it.
Finally, after you’ve made the decision to buy the bike, that information goes back to the motor centers so you can actually carry out the action.
At every stage in this process, from observation to action, our drives and emotions play a crucial role in influencing our behavior.
How Understanding The Four Drives Can Help Companies Succeed
Companies can significantly improve their efficiency when they work to satisfy their employees’ four drives.
Driven, a book that explains how the human brain works, outlines just how important it is to create an environment that nurtures your workforce in order to maximize productivity and performance.
When all four of an employee’s instinctual motivations are fulfilled, they could be at their greatest potential.
By creating an atmosphere in which team building is supported and divisions aren’t too stringent, employers can nurture connections among co-workers and foster a sense of belonging with the company as a whole.
Additionally, making sure employees get exposure to furthering their education and having chances to learn new skills are essential for keeping enthusiasm high in an otherwise monotonous job setting.
Ultimately, satisfying these drives has plenty of benefits for customers as well.
When the establishment provides goods or services with quality assurance and reliability against negligence, customers come away feeling satisfied that they were treated fairly according to their “drive to defend”.
Plus, if they’re exposed to new ideas while working with the brand or find its product engaging on multiple levels thanks to stimulating features, then they’ll keep coming back due to satisfaction from their “drive to acquire” and “drive to learn” respectively.
Wrap Up
In conclusion, Driven provides actionable advice for understanding and leveraging the four core drives of humans.
It shows us how to identify our own motivations and use them to make better decisions.
Ultimately, recognizing the four drives allows us to create an enjoyable and productive atmosphere in our organizations by satisfying people’s most basic needs.
By studying Driven, we can learn about the deep-seated motivations of human behavior and use them to get more out of ourselves and our teams.
Understanding these powerful forces can help us form better relationships with colleagues, be more productive in work environments, as well as gain insight into our inner workings.
