Motivation to control hypothesis

The motivation to control hypothesis is a hypothesis proposed by David C. Geary. The hypothesis basically suggests that motivation of a species (including humans)fundmentally is the motivation to control those resources, (physical, biological, and social), that have historically covaried with that species' survival and reproductive success. Such motivation is not neccessarily conscious, and it is presumed that most of the time it is not.

Papers

 * Geary, D. C. (2005). The motivation to control and the origin of mind: Exploring the life-mind joint point in the tree of knowledge. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61, 21-46. Full text