The Selfish Goal: Autonomously operating motivational structures as the proximate cause of human judgment and behaviour

Authors- Julie Y. HuangJohn A. Bargh Presentation By - Anubhav Bimbisariye

Brijesh Chandrakar

The WorkTaking theories, experiments, data, conclusions from various papers and presenting their point of view on the matter, making something new.

Goal 1

Goal 2

Goal 3

CompetitionBehaviour

A theory stating that goals drive or use a human to satisfy their end states selfishly.

Goals- the control center● Selfish goals like Selfish Genes(Richard Dawkins, 1976).● Gene use organism as their survival machine.● Goals use as achieving machine.

What are ‘Goals’ here?● Short term achievements like

eating, running, shouting, or some immediate task.

● Not long term like marriage, job, settling etc. They might be called dreams or desires.

Active goal: proximal cause of human behaviour

● Goals: conscious, unconscious.● Each goal targeted towards specific end-

state.● Behaviours encouraged by one goal may

favour or inhibit the end-state of other goals.

Example

WinnerWeeks before exam, not hungry

Example

Winner

Minutes before exam, definitely not hungry

Automaticity Principle Goals can use unconscious processes to guide the behavior or take actions without the individual’s awareness.

Experiment - Cooperation

Reconfiguration PrincipleThe currently active, winning goal does constrain and alter the information processing, perception, memory etc in a way that will enable it’s end state to be fulfilled.

Goals Inactive

Powerful active goals

Normal Attention and perception

Powerful active goals

Goals Active

Manipulated attention and perception

Similarity PrincipleAll the conscious goals and use similar processes and work in similar way as unconscious goals and processes.

Inconsistency PrincipleThere might be temporarily active goals in some situations which might cause the behaviour of the person to appear inconsistent.

Conclusion

The authors present a theory based on many papers and experiments, and support their views through logical arguments and experimental analysis.

Questions? Doubts? Queries?