The Motivation For Humans To Interact

This week we examined the spread of different cultures’ religious beliefs and practices around the world over time.  We determined that human interactions have been the engine of history. That is, everyday interactions between humans, some notable and some routine, have triggered every (human related) event, belief, and value in both local communities and broader regions. Our world most likely would not function the way it currently does if humans had not started interacting thousands of years ago.

Human interactions have been so significant because they have led to cultural diffusion.   Cultural diffusion is the sharing of ideas between individuals of different cultures. It can happen purposefully as when people have the incentive to learn from each other, or can happen accidently because of exposure to other cultures that inevitably result in new ideas.  Cultural diffusion can be seen in the earliest of times.  When people came together to hunt or protect their children or even to reproduce, cultures fused ideas together and advancements were made.  Hunters learned how to make sharper weapons by learning from each other.  Women learned how to look after their children by learning from other mothers.  Cultural diffusion, a product of human interaction, is what allows our world to advance.  It is more difficult for a single man to produce new ideas than for ten men to work together. 

Yet, there must be a reason that motivates humans to work together, and ultimately that leads to cultural diffusion. I would argue that instinctually, humans have a natural drive to survive both on an individual and communal level. Human decisions are consciously or subconsciously made with the purpose of living an easier, healthier, happier, and more prosperous life.  The development of the Silk Road, one of the most identifiable examples of cultural diffusion, can be analyzed from this perspective. This major trading route between Asia and Europe, was created because humans believed that they could live more prosperously and healthfully by trading goods such as jewels, fabrics, and spices.  It was a creation motivated by the desire for more prosperous lives.  The human instinct to survive more easily is reason for all human decisions and actions. 

            Of course, the human drive to survive does not always result in positive advancements for humans. Sometimes, the instinct live more prosperously can lead to actions that many make the lives of some much worse. An example of this is war.  Wars over religion, land, power, or other resources come from the idea that a conflict must take place in order for a nation to live more prosperously. In order to live in a better world, one religion must destroy another religion, or one country must destroy the government of another country.

            Human interactions lead to cultural diffusion, which then leads to new ideas and events. Yet, it is the natural human instinct to survive that motivates humans to interact with each other.  It is the basic psychological motivation that has led to both the greatest human achievements and the most violent acts.