Biological Motivation and Prudence: A Research Essay

Obi Ubani-Ukoma

Psychology 213, section CE Professor Marla Maynard December 7, 2013

Biological Motivation and Prudence
Motivation can be defined as the compulsion that makes people to behave, think, and feel the way they do (King, 2013). While biological motivation deals with those instinct in animals that moves them to behave the way they do. This Motivation can arise from drive which can lead to need in other so satisfy the urge.
Prudence is the capability to dictate and discipline oneself by the use of reason. Prudence helps the individual in making informed choices that will benefit him and the society at large. Prudence can also be attributed to self-control, since the later also deals with self-restriction on things that one feels should be curbed.
Factors encouraging Imprudent Indulgent of Biological Urges
There are factors that encourage the imprudent indulgent of biological urges, and is not good to Christians as well as non-believers. The factors will be critically analyzed in other to portray the dangers involved in these urges and also recommendations to curb these deviances. The factors as discussed below;
Firstly, Personal factor can contribute to imprudent indulgence of alcohol, sex and excessive food if not checked. It is normal to eat, have sexual intercourse, but it becomes a problem when an individual loses self-control and resort to excessiveness of the various aforementioned biological urges. Personal greed can be attributed to people eating and drinking more than their body is required and which can lead to obesity and heart diseases. Too much alcohol drinking damages the body organs and can lead to intoxication if not checked. Rape and sexual molestation cases rises from personal greed, selfishness and lack of respect to another, which is very bad to the society. Personal factor is an important attribute to imprudent indulgences of biological urges.
Societal factors contributes to imprudent indulgences greatly because people don’t exist alone and therefore live in groups, which in turn brings about exchange of ideas and behaviors. Individuals face societal pressure in their everyday life towards certain behavior and attitudes. I was raised in Christian family and surrounded by a bad society which believes that is normal for people to engage in premarital sex, alcohol drinking and other vices. These vices are deviances in view of my family and kin, but it is a norm to the society I live in. Majority of my friends that had good Christian background succumbed to these vices because of the societal pressure of the peers (peer pressure) who believed that is ok to do this vices and you are labelled a nerd if you do not engaged in them. These societal factors contribute to imprudent indulgences.
Lastly, Biological factors contribute to imprudent indulgences when it comes to obesity. The human body is designed to signal for hunger (Gastric Signals) if the need arises for more nutrients in the body (King, 2013). Obesity increases one’s risk for a variety health problems, which can lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (King, 2013). Biologically, people become obese due to genetic hereditary of the parents. Children with an obese parent have 40 percent tendency to be obese while 70 percent of children with obese parents becomes obese (King, 2013). This factor is not caused by society or oneself rather the complicate pattern of nature comes into play and destroy people’s lives if not checked or managed.
Temperance and Prudence are Christian virtues which help us to live good life and maintain high moral standards in the society. These virtues should be recommended in tackling these biological urges so as to enable them live healthy and responsible in the society. In terms of biological factors, people should know their origin and genetic implications so as to model a plan that will help them fight obesity. Praying to God for guidance and support in implementing their plans is highly needed.
Non-believers can be encouraged to practice this virtues by showing them the dangers involved in alcoholism and lack of self-control. They can be encouraged more base on consequences, punishment and reward, since they do not believe in Christian ways. Is obvious that rape is an offence that is punishable and is conspicuous that abstinence and moderate eating will lead to good health (reward). The non-believers should also be made to see it as norm which promotes society building and improves their health, rather than a Christian perspective that contradicts with their religious view.
It is possible for people to prudently regulate their biological urges with the help of Christianity by following the practices of temperance and Prudence. These virtues will surely help them and enrich their lives. The reward in these virtues are immense and can make people live good lives that will avoid poverty and lead to self-sufficiency as well as happiness. In Proverbs 23:21, it says, “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags” (King James Version). Nobody wants to come to poverty nor be clothed with rags, every sane person wants the best for him/her so as to live a happy live.

References

James, K. (n.d.). Bible.
King, L. (2013). Experience Psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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