What Really Makes Us Who We Are?
Social Psychology, Supplemental Book Review:
The Rational Animal: How Evolution Makes Us Smarter Than We Think.
Overview:
In this essay, I discuss the different ways that this book has altered my way of thinking, both slightly and greatly, as well as the questions or ideas that sparked in my brain while reading the book.
Summary:
This book offers a new insight into the way that we may see or think about a variety of human interactions as well as the way people think of themselves. While reading the book, I was frequently confronted with questions about the way in which I do things, but more interestingly, the reasons behind my own actions, both conscious and subconscious. As humans, we are defined as ‘rational …show more content…
According to this text, motives and goals are closely related with goals following motivations. Somewhat unlike The Rational Animal book, the text refers to what authors Cialdini, Kenrick and Neuberg call Conscious and Automatic Goal Pursuit. (Cialdini, Kenrick, Neuberg pg. 39) This is defined as requiring contemplation of goals and ways to achieve them, as well as possible shortcomings of maybe not achieving these goals. On the topic of motivation and goals, the text relates to the book again in chapter 13, which discusses gaining immediate satisfaction. This section discusses the pitfalls of acting on impulse to gain instant gratification. One major downside to acting on impulse to gain some form of immediate satisfaction is that sometimes the immediate satisfaction is downplayed by a negative long-term consequence. (Cialdini, Kenrick, Neuberg pg. 445) I think that this is especially true in instances when people act on impulse rather than taking time to analyze events and the factors including consequences that should go into proper, effective decision-making. I automatically think of children when I think about ineffective decision-making, as they most often act on impulse and do things that will result in instant gratification. Unlike The Rational Animal book, the text does not distinguish the ‘differing levels’ of a person’s goals. Also mentioned in this section is the idea of willpower, which does again coincide with The Rational Animal book. The text states: “Moving towards any particular goal is sometimes difficult. Other goals sometimes pop up and compete for our attention, making it difficult to focus on the task at hand.” (Cialdini, Kenrick, Neuberg pg. 40) Willpower is a person’s ability to distinguish the varying importance of tasks, and to recognize the need to do so in order to accomplish goals. What the book does not
Social Psychology, Supplemental Book Review:
The Rational Animal: How Evolution Makes Us Smarter Than We Think.
Overview:
In this essay, I discuss the different ways that this book has altered my way of thinking, both slightly and greatly, as well as the questions or ideas that sparked in my brain while reading the book.
Summary:
This book offers a new insight into the way that we may see or think about a variety of human interactions as well as the way people think of themselves. While reading the book, I was frequently confronted with questions about the way in which I do things, but more interestingly, the reasons behind my own actions, both conscious and subconscious. As humans, we are defined as ‘rational …show more content…
According to this text, motives and goals are closely related with goals following motivations. Somewhat unlike The Rational Animal book, the text refers to what authors Cialdini, Kenrick and Neuberg call Conscious and Automatic Goal Pursuit. (Cialdini, Kenrick, Neuberg pg. 39) This is defined as requiring contemplation of goals and ways to achieve them, as well as possible shortcomings of maybe not achieving these goals. On the topic of motivation and goals, the text relates to the book again in chapter 13, which discusses gaining immediate satisfaction. This section discusses the pitfalls of acting on impulse to gain instant gratification. One major downside to acting on impulse to gain some form of immediate satisfaction is that sometimes the immediate satisfaction is downplayed by a negative long-term consequence. (Cialdini, Kenrick, Neuberg pg. 445) I think that this is especially true in instances when people act on impulse rather than taking time to analyze events and the factors including consequences that should go into proper, effective decision-making. I automatically think of children when I think about ineffective decision-making, as they most often act on impulse and do things that will result in instant gratification. Unlike The Rational Animal book, the text does not distinguish the ‘differing levels’ of a person’s goals. Also mentioned in this section is the idea of willpower, which does again coincide with The Rational Animal book. The text states: “Moving towards any particular goal is sometimes difficult. Other goals sometimes pop up and compete for our attention, making it difficult to focus on the task at hand.” (Cialdini, Kenrick, Neuberg pg. 40) Willpower is a person’s ability to distinguish the varying importance of tasks, and to recognize the need to do so in order to accomplish goals. What the book does not