Human behavior is guided primarily by self-interest.

Human behavior is guided primarily by self-interest.

12:45-1:15

As humans we are often concerned about being on top of the food chain than other species. Over the course of evolution, the natural instinct of survival and passing on genes to the next generation is still present of today. The survival of the fittest theory is still regarded relevant to today’s society. We are always trying to satisfy our biological and psychological needs to be health individuals. Others also act against their own self-interest as a result of alteration in their brain chemistry due to drugs or mental illness. However, all humans, regardless of how developed they are on a civilized scale, may or may not be guided by self interest.

First consider a situation when, human behavior is guided by self-interest. Since the Industrial Revolution in the 1920s, many of the new technological innovations at the time have been redesigned for the demands of the current society. This has been mainly done by multinational corporations (MNCs) who try to design products to satisfy consumer needs and at the end a profit is made. In the early 1990s, the Supreme Court allowed MNCs to be considered as one individual rather than many individuals working for a profit. This definition has changed the society dramatically for the worst. One of the most notorious MNCs are Monsanto and Walmart. Monsanto is a US based company that controls the majority of the food market in the western industrialized world. It regulates the prices of food, gasoline and raw materials for everyday survival. Monsanto for instance has had many lawsuits for unethical practices for food production. In the worst case scenario, farmers were directed by the company to follow their agenda or face severe fines and penalties. For producing vegetable crops, farmers were mandated to use a genetically modified seed to grow corn and other crops with synthetic fertilizers. These GM foods were considered to be unethical by many consumers but have no choice in a dwindling economy. Likewise, meat products such as chicken have to be overfed with fatty chicken feed to make them bigger for more “white” meat resulting in more profit. Likewise, Walmart’s goal of keeping low prices for a handsome profit is at the expense of hard working labors that face in humane treatment such as sleep deprivation and starvation. As a result MNCs are examples of human behavior guided by self interest.

On the other hand, not all human behavior is guided by self-interest. Some of the most renowned individuals are those who have given up their lives for the betterment of others. For instance, Mother Teresa was a young women from Albania who at a very young age was more interested in helping people in need than her desires. She joined a nunnery at the age of 18 and first worked in an Irish nunnery for Loreto Sisters of Dublin. Teresa eventually became a Sister and through self discipline was able to realize that self interests were not as important as the wellness of god’s people. She was formally educated in history and geography but soon decided to help those that were not as fortunate. Teresa went to the underserved areas of India’s slum areas where poverty and famine were at its peak. She was very selfless and tried to ease the pain and suffering by nurturing young children and the old in their times of suffering. One of the most notable instances is of patients with leprosy, where she openly tried administer medicine to reduce the severity of the disease. Mother Teresa soon became known for self less acts by educating people, and doing humanitarian service for the underserved. Thus, Mother Teresa is an example who’s behavior is guided by helping others and not for her self interests.

All in all it depends on the situation when human behavior is based on self interest. If a person(s) is only greedy for a profit such as MNCs then they are satisfying their biological and emotional needs. However, human behavior is also guided by helping others out such as Mother Teresa. So it is within the individual’s willingness to know the difference between helping others and self interest. There has to be a balance between the two and no extremes for society to thrive.