Why do reaching goals provide satisfaction?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the reasons behind the satisfaction derived from reaching goals, touching on psychological theories such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs and philosophical perspectives from figures like St. Thomas Aquinas. The scope includes psychological, philosophical, and personal reflections on goal-setting and its implications for human nature and fulfillment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the necessity of self-actualization as proposed by Maslow, asking for evidence that all humans would pursue this path if basic needs were met.
  • Another participant shares personal experience, noting that having goals provides satisfaction and that a lack of goals can lead to feelings of depression.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that proficiency in a field is meaningless without goals to validate it, using the analogy of an archer without a target.
  • One participant argues that goal-setting is intrinsic to human nature and evolution, linking it to the definition of self and survival instincts.
  • Aquinas' perspective is introduced, suggesting that the pursuit of goals is an evolutionary trait, with satisfaction from achieving goals being necessary for species survival.
  • A later reply raises a broader question about whether activities that are evolutionarily favored are inherently pleasurable, drawing parallels to basic biological functions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the nature and necessity of goals, with no clear consensus on the reasons for satisfaction derived from achieving them. Some agree on the importance of goals for personal fulfillment, while others challenge or expand on the underlying theories.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to psychological theories and philosophical concepts, but lacks empirical evidence or consensus on the validity of these claims. Assumptions about human nature and the universality of goal-seeking behavior remain unexamined.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring psychology, philosophy, personal development, and the nature of human motivation.

Maryjfl
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Why do reaching goals provide satisfaction??

Hoping that this is an interesting question...

Why does having a "goal" and a plan for your life provide satisfaction?

Using the "hierarchy of needs" of Maslow, I'm thinking that following that goal is the same as reaching the level of "self-actualization", but can anybody assure the reasons for needing to self-actualize oneself? How did this guy came upon that concept... how can one prove that all humans would follow that path of self-actualization, be it the case, that world hunger and emotional disorders were gone?
As far as my research went (very poor research) it said that Maslow (and all humanists) believe that "Humans seek the frontiers of creativity, the highest reaches of consciousness and wisdom" (go to http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/maslow.htm) and the evidence would be that his "theory accurately describes many realities of personal experiences".

OK, your turn, what do u think? could somebody be able to refute his theory of the human striving for success? Or why would u think it is true?

...and hoping there are simpler answers to such a redundance of terms. Thanks
 
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great topic mary...having some kind of goal in my life does provide great satisfaction, matter of fact, i get a little depressed if i have none...goals and hobbies are both what i indulge my energy into...
 
Realiy says most of us strive for Goals/ Success in our career. Okay if you are proficient in one particular field will it be of any use if you don't have goals to prove it.

Okay Consider a great Archer who has got plenty of arrows and a bow but got no target to practice, will it provide satisfaction to him.

Exactly Consider Sherlock Holmes who gets bored by emptiness or situation of being without a goal
 
Simple human nature. We must have goals to attain or we lack definition of self. It is our achievements, weather personal or public, that allow us to define ourselves. It's intrinsic to our evolution to have goalsetting. It's part of our curiosity and survival instinct.
 
St. Thomas Aquinas identified goal seeking as the "animal" portion of the soul. He noted that animals do this (seeking food, mates, etc.) and plants don't.

Turning Aquinas on his head, it's easy to see 2why satisfaction at goal achieved would evolve, without it a mammal species would die out.

Here's a general question. Do all those activities which are physically required or evolutionarily favored seem pleasurable to us? Defecation is another such activity that we couldn't do without and whose mysteriously pleasurable quality has been discussed before on these boards.
 

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