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A Biblical Understanding and Psychological Theories of the Human Motivation

  • Journal of Counseling and Gospel
  • Abbr : Jocag
  • 2012, 18(), pp.106-130
  • DOI : 10.17841/jocag.2012.18..106
  • Publisher : Korean Evangelical Counseling Society
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology > Pastoral Counseling
  • Received : April 12, 2012
  • Accepted : May 15, 2012

Kim, Jun Soo 1

1아세아연합신학대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

Human have sought to explain and understand why people behave the way they do. In everyday life one notices that people are sometimes angry and sometimes fearful, sometimes energetic and sometimes lethargic. The causes of behavior are often very complex and have no simple answers. Even when two people show similar behavior-as when two church members attend early morning prayer meeting regularly-they may have do so for very different reasons. Psychologists, in their experimental investigation over the years, arrived at several broad explanations to describe how people are motivated. Instinct was used to describe inborn characteristics viewing humans as animal or a machine. Later many psychologists have rejected using the term, viewing humans as more cognitive and complex being. Need reduction theory is another explanation explaining human motivation. This theory points the fact that the satisfaction of physical and psychological needs are important determinants of behavior. Biblical understanding of human motivation focus on the desires that rule the human heart. My daily behavior is my attempt to get what is important to me in various situations and relationships. My choices and actions always reveal the desires that rule my heart. The most important issue of the human motivation is the issue of worship. Our hearts are always being ruled by someone or something. Whatever controls our hearts will control our responses to people and situations. In the biblical view, we are religious people either worshipping true God or idols.

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