Review of 'Understanding Human Motivation: What Makes People Tick?' Donald Laming. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2004. ISBN 0-631-21983-8 (PB); 311 pp; £19.99.

Abstract

The main purpose of 'Understanding Human Motivation' is to provide a rationale for human behaviour in the various social and quasi-mechanical situations that form our raison d'être. If a person witnesses two cats fighting then this may be put down to instinctive behaviour whilst two human beings fighting may be regarded as free will, ie. they had the choice as to whether they wanted to fight or not. Throughout this publication it is suggested that it is possible that humans may not have as much free-will as one would expect. Is our behaviour just as predictable and determined as that of animals that are seen by some to be wild and instinctive? Laming argues that each biological species has hardwired patterns of behaviour. Why should it be presumed humankind is any different?