Success

A goal directive centered on achieving recognition and measurable accomplishments. Unlike power’s focus on capacity building, success emphasizes concrete achievements and visible results. This directive coordinates goal-oriented behaviors and performance optimization, driving competitive and achievement-focused actions. Its intensity influences how persistently one pursues specific objectives.

Thrill

A goal directive focused on pursuing intense and novel experiences. It processes signals related to stimulation, driving behaviors that seek out new and energizing situations. This directive specifically coordinates seeks out high-arousal experiences and challenging opportunities. Its strength determines willingness to engage with uncertain or intense situations.

Hedonism

A goal directive aimed at maximizing short term pleasure. Unlike thrill’s emphasis on intensity, hedonism focuses on maximizing positive experiences and comfort. This directive drives behaviors that seek out enjoyment and avoid unnecessary effort or distress, but may have a counter effect by increasing distress in the long run. Its intensity influences how strongly immediate gratification is prioritized.

Affiliation

A goal directive focused on establishing and deepening personal connections. Moving beyond cohesion’s group emphasis, affiliation concerns itself with individual relationship quality. This directive drives behaviors that initiate and strengthen specific social bonds. Its intensity influences how actively one seeks and maintains close relationships.

Cohesion

A goal directive centered on maintaining smooth group dynamics and social harmony. It processes signals related to group stability and cooperation, driving behaviors that promote unity and reduce conflict. This directive coordinates actions that strengthen collective bonds and shared understanding. Its strength determines investment in group harmony versus individual preferences.

Approval

A motivation driving acceptance of authority or force, focused on yielding control to prevent conflict. Its action tendency is to reduce resistance and follow external direction, generating behavioral patterns of compliance and subordination.

Security

A goal directive focused on maintaining a stable foundation of resources and reliable routines. It processes signals related to basic needs and established patterns, driving behaviors that ensure consistent access to necessities and familiar environments. This directive prioritizes predictability and sustainability over immediate safety concerns, coordinating long-term stability through resource management and routine maintenance. Its strength determines whether an individual prioritizes maintaining their established base or risks disrupting it for potential gains.

Safety

A goal directive centered on monitoring and responding to immediate physical and sensory cues of danger. Rather than focusing on long-term stability, it emphasizes real-time danger, harm, and defeat detection and response. This directive coordinates immediate reactions, particularly in response to novel or sudden changes in the environment. Its intensity influences split-second decisions about fight, flight, or freeze responses.

Protection

A goal directive specifically focused on defending valued relationships and achievements from degradation or loss. Unlike security’s focus on stability or safety’s emphasis on immediate threats, protection concerns itself with preserving specific elements that contribute to one’s quality of life and status. This directive drives preventive planning and defensive actions specifically tailored to the nature of what’s being protected, whether social bonds, accomplishments, or possessions. Its strength reflects both the value placed on these elements and perceived risks to them.

Opposition

A goal directive centered on countering forces that challenge one’s intentions or values. It processes signals related to interference or conflict, driving behaviors that establish and maintain boundaries through confrontation. This directive coordinates responses specifically aimed at neutralizing or overcoming obstacles to individual agency. Its strength determines whether challenges are met with direct resistance or strategic maneuvering.

Control

A goal directive focused on directing and shaping circumstances to align with one’s intentions. Unlike opposition’s defensive stance, control emphasizes proactive influence over situations and outcomes. This directive coordinates efforts to maintain authority over relevant domains, driving behaviors that establish and exercise command. Its intensity influences how actively one seeks to manage their environment and relationships.

Power

A goal directive aimed at building and expanding one’s capacity to influence broader outcomes. Moving beyond control’s focus on immediate circumstances, power concerns itself with developing and demonstrating strength and capability. This directive drives behaviors that increase social influence, resource access, and personal capability. Its strength determines investment in building long-term influence and authority.