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The Socio-Functional Theory of Human Nature

Since the earliest times, we have always sought meaning.

Meaning of life and of our existence.

Meaning and answer to the question “Why?”.

Why do we suffer, why do we rejoice, why do we love, why do we feel this way or the other, why do we do the things we do, why others are the way they are, and many other such torments, all starting with the question “why?”

The truth is that as many people on earth are –  as many opportunities to discover different meanings are there.

However, in order for any meaning to exist to anyone, this person must exist in the first place. To have been born as a result of the continuation of the species carried out by his parents.

The individual, however, rarely thinks about these questions.

We don’t think of ourselves as a biological species. Therefore, we often don’t see the continuation of the species as an evolutionary or biological task, but rather as a personal choice influenced by our understandings, and/or policies, trends, fashions, and biases.

In this line of thought, it is important to emphasize that our existence as a species is a precondition for any meaning to be sought afterward. 

That being said, the first step is to reproduce.

This also brings us to the evolutionary goal of all biological species, to which we as people also belong: to reproduce and thus contribute to the survival of their species.

If we fail to achieve this goal, humanity will simply disappear from the face of the Earth.

That said, it becomes clear that at a deep biological level the “meaning of life” is the continuation of the species.

In other words, the deep underlying motive of all living things is the fulfillment of this evolutionary goal.

The world itself, with its natural characteristics, is a harsh place to live in. 

To this, we add the fact that all species (including us) inhabit the same territory in which resources and space are limited and therefore have to coexist in constant competition for them. 

But as we know, even though we are currently at the top of the food pyramid, we do not enjoy a very competitive physiology (compared to many animal species, our physical strength, teeth, claws, and senses, are uncompetitive, in the context of possible physical collision. We also don’t have tusks, venom, horns or spikes, etc. advantages that many species have).

All this puts us in front of constant challenges throughout our life, in our quest to achieve the evolutionary goal.

The number of these challenges is indeed huge, but they are often similar in type, origin, and characteristics. 

This makes it easier for us to deal with them. 

In reality, we do not have to deal with millions, but with several types, or in other words, groups of challenges with similar characteristics, origins, and types.

These groups of challenges could be classified and reduced logically (by similarities) to a few in number.

Our ability to deal with these few groups of challenges determines our ability to survive as a species.

This turns the need to “deal” with these groups of challenges into a major driving force – something that every person has to do everywhere and constantly, and without which survival becomes a significantly more difficult task.

For this reason, we view addressing each of these groups of challenges as a necessity, or in other words, a basic psychological need.

Thanks to millennia of development, evolution has equipped us with various mechanisms to deal with these sets of challenges, helping only the most adaptable of people to survive and continue to reproduce and pass on their genes over time.

We call these specific mechanisms “Human Nature”.

On the one hand, human nature is biologically conditioned by the biochemical processes in our bodies, but on the other hand, it is socially influenced, as we live in groups to more easily cope with the challenges of the environment. 

This coexistence in groups requires some of the aforementioned coping mechanisms to be socially oriented.

For this reason, we call the mechanisms for dealing with challenges (and correspondingly satisfying the mentioned needs) “Socio-Functional” and we say that human nature is socio-functional in its essence.

In order to be able to build a qualitative understanding of what has been described so far, we will look at the mentioned groups of needs without ordering them in order of importance:

1. The need for gratification: As it became clear, the importance of satisfaction of our needs is so great that our survival as a species literally depends on it. However, how does a person know when a certain need of his has to be satisfied? In nature, there is a concept called “Homeostasis” – a constant striving of every system, (such as the human body) to maintain a balance between the internal and external environment of the system. Whenever homeostasis (balance) is disturbed, certain mechanisms are activated to drive various processes to restore this balance. We call this group of mechanisms “Gratification“.

2. The need for security: The harsh and unpredictable environment we live in, creates the need for a set of mechanisms to help us avoid anything risky and dangerous in order to protect ourselves from harm. We call this group of mechanisms “Caution. 

3. The need to be healthy: The presence of a variety of bacteria, germs, and other pathogens, as well as the presence of a variety of negative influences, including social ones (coming from the behavior of others), makes the environment threatening to our health in ways that often remain “hidden” for the mechanisms mentioned above (that deals with potential injuries). This threatens our health and gives rise to the need for a set of mechanisms to help us take care of it, avoiding these negative influences. We call this group of mechanisms “Well-Being“.

How It Works

4. Need for predictability: The only sure thing in this world is change. It is constantly happening, it is unpredictable, and it brings with it challenges and risks. The more difficult it is for a person to adapt “on the fly” to changes, the greater the need for predictability and structure that person feels in order to more easily cope with the challenges that come with these changes. This gives rise to the need for a set of mechanisms to help us deal with change in one of two possible ways – either by improving our ability to adapt “on the fly” or by helping us to structure the world in such ways so that it is less chaotic and more predictable for us. We call this group of mechanisms “Adaptability”.

5. Need for stimulation: The ability to adapt to change, however, is related to the tendency of the human organism, once adapted, to get used to the circumstances and conditions in which it finds itself. This tendency is influenced by the already mentioned striving for “Homeostasis”. Homeostasis leads to a kind of stagnation for the person in the so-called “Comfort zone”. The changing nature of the world and environment, however, does not care for our quest for homeostasis. This gives rise to the need for a set of mechanisms to help us develop and thereby increase our ability to adapt to ever greater and more drastic changes and challenges. We call this group of mechanisms “Openness to experience“.

6. The need to identify the useful and good for our needs: In the process of pursuing the stimulation described above, we have the need to identify if we either encountered a useful or harmful phenomenon for our needs. This gives rise to the need for a set of mechanisms directing us to such ways of interacting with the surrounding world, which “indicate” to us whether what is happening (the thing with which we interact) is useful for our needs or not. We call this group of mechanisms “Enjoyment”.

7. The need to move towards the useful, the good, and the fruitful in the future: Our ability to identify the useful mentioned above leads us to another interesting phenomenon. We get the opportunity to predict those interactions which will potentially improve our ability to satisfy our needs. This, in turn, gives rise to the need for a set of mechanisms to help us move towards and eventually achieve these results in the future and thus improve our ability to satisfy our needs. We call this group of mechanisms “Ambition“.

8. Need for resources: Maintaining the previously mentioned homeostasis is related to the expenditure of energy, which is finite in the human body and is exhausted after a certain time (different for each individual). To be able to continue functioning, we need to manage the expenditure of our energy, as well as regenerate it. Thus, we store, redirect and prioritize its expenditure (until it is restored) only for the “most important” (subjectively) needs. Both the management of energy in the human body and its regeneration are processes related to various resources that we acquire from interaction with the environment. This gives rise to the need for a group of mechanisms to stimulate the acquisition, storage, and distribution of these resources, as well as the regeneration of energy following their absorption. We call this group of mechanisms “Thriftiness”.

9 Need for social status: As we mentioned at the beginning of the theory, resources are a finite number (for any given territory) and often there are not enough for everyone. This gives rise to the phenomenon of social hierarchy (the higher in this hierarchy we are, the more benefits we gain), and it gives rise to the need for mechanisms that will help us to position ourselves higher in this social hierarchy. Thus, we enjoy more privileges such as time, attention and resources, access to intimate partners, information, etc. – all in support of the satisfaction of our needs. We call this group of mechanisms “Status”.

10. The need to continue the species: As it became clear from the introductory part of the present theory, the continuation of the species is the main evolutionary goal of every living organism, including people. This gives rise to the need for a set of mechanisms to assist this process. We call this group of mechanisms “Intimacy”.

So far so good, you might say, but how does it all actually work?

What exactly are these mechanisms and how do they work in practice – in the real world?

In order for these so-called needs to be satisfied, nature has given us a few different ways to make this process happen. Here they are:

  • Through feelings
  • Through our intellect
  • Through our body
  • Through other people (functioning in a group)
  • Through our interaction with another person (interpersonal interaction)
  • Through our behaviors (adaptive and maladaptive)
  • Through the choices we make

Since everything we do can be traced to these few “ways”, this makes them indistinguishable from the needs explained earlier. In other words – if we want to satisfy our needs, we need to use those ways, which basically turn them into needs themselves.

We call them “Secondary Needs”.

An important clarification is that just because they are called secondary does not mean they are less important than the primary described above. Often, people may experience these needs as even more important. It just goes to show that they serve to satisfy the basic ones from above.

Let’s look at them one by one:

11. Feelings (the need to distinguish between good and bad): Since we (like many other living things) are born, to put it mildly, unprepared for all the challenges that the world throws at us, we need a way to distinguish good from bad. Therefore, nature had to provide us with a mechanism that would allow us to orient ourselves on a purely intuitive level about what is useful and what is harmful to us and our needs. Thus, we experience positive feelings in relation to things that bring us closer to satisfying our needs and negative feelings in relation to things that move us away from satisfying them. We say that feelings have a “motivational character” because they move us towards the given thing or away from it (depending on whether or not it is useful for our needs or harmful to them).

12. Intellect (the need for awareness, understanding, and meaning): The feelings described above “push us around” according to the situation. This is often a too primitive and maladaptive way of dealing with challenges, as it encourages only the momentary gratification, “here and now”, of a particular need, without taking into account the role of the person in the context of different circumstances, past lessons, future possibilities and the interrelationships between phenomena. This gives rise to the need for a set of mechanisms that would give us the ability to process the flow of information coming through the senses as a result of our interaction with the surrounding world, as well as to store it for future use. This group of mechanisms makes possible for us the process of awareness and understanding of ourselves and our existence in the context of the surrounding world, its phenomena and the time frame of everything in existence. These mechanisms provide us with a measure of self-control and influence over our feelings and help us to more adaptively satisfy our needs in view of our own conditions, past, future, and the interrelationships between all the phenomena connected with them. It is these mechanisms that actually position humans at evolutionary higher levels compared to other animal species. And the group of mechanisms, we call “Intellect“.

13. Body (the need for effective interaction with the environment): Our non-competitive physique compared to other species, described at the beginning, requires nature to seek alternative means of compensation so as to give us a chance. These alternative methods should help us use our body more adaptively (instrumentally) and efficiently (conserving energy) and thus more successfully satisfy our needs. We call this group of mechanisms “Physical Efficiency“.

14. Through other people (the need to function in groups): As mentioned at the beginning, one of the ways we cope with challenges is by coming together and living in groups with other people to increase our chances of survival and satisfying our needs. Thus arises the need for a set of mechanisms to stimulate our ability to find groups, join them, and use them to satisfy our needs. We call this group of mechanisms “Sociability”.

15. Interpersonal interaction (the need to get along with other people): As it became clear from the previous need, in order to get support for satisfying our needs, we organize our lives in groups. But this, in itself, is a problem, since even within the group, resources are limited and not always enough for everyone. This leads to intragroup competition. It is, however, detrimental to the group itself and would lead to its collapse, as each member of the group would pursue his own interest. This gives rise to the need for a group of mechanisms that allow us to orient ourselves on a purely intuitive level about what in relationships with other people is useful and what is harmful, both for our personal needs and for those of others. Through these mechanisms, we acquire the ability to identify the needs of others and match our own with theirs, adapting. It even gives us an incentive to help other people in the process of meeting their needs. Without these mechanisms, groups simply could not exist and humans could not coexist together, let alone continue the species. We call this group of mechanisms “Interpersonal Sensitivity”.

16. Behaviors (adaptive) (the need for the group to accept us): To function successfully in a group, however, it is not enough for us to find a group and join it. The group, in turn, must also accept us. This gives rise to the need for a set of mechanisms to help us engage in such behaviors in the context of coexistence with other people that help us to be accepted by the group. We call this group of mechanisms “Adaptive Habits“.

17. Behaviours (maladaptive) (the need to satisfy our needs despite the group and other people): Living in a group, on the other hand, often leads to an unpleasant consequence – the group imposes on us certain patterns of behavior that are acceptable to it, but which are often harmful to our individual needs. And since we always prioritize our personal needs, this gives rise to the need for a set of mechanisms to help us satisfy our needs despite social expectations. We call this group of mechanisms “Socially Maladaptive Behaviors”.

18. The choices that we make (the need for the “right” environment and circumstances): The fact that we all grow up in different life circumstances and conditions, plus all the influences from family, social environment, media, cultural characteristics, etc., leads to the formation of the last  – this time entirely social group of mechanisms for dealing with challenges. We call this group of mechanisms “Values” and it is a combination of certain beliefs, attitudes, and preferences in relation to what and how is good, useful, and valuable in the context of our needs.

The interesting thing about Values is that if a person finds himself in circumstances that are not in harmony with his values, he experiences negative feelings. Accordingly, in the opposite scenario, he experiences positive ones. This automatically means that we all need to put ourselves in the “right” circumstances (places, activities, social environment, partners, etc.) that are in tune with our values if we want to lead a satisfactory life.

As you may have noticed, the list of secondary needs above continues the numbering from the primary ones. The information is structured in this way because for a person, the way of “experiencing” primary and secondary needs is very similar. Or in other words, we do not feel the two types of needs differently. Moreover, failure to satisfy both types of needs has lasting negative consequences for both – our physical and mental health.

For this reason, we say that if a person permanently neglects his needs (in general – both types), then he will not be able to function normally and at some point, this will lead to a deterioration of his health.

And this brings us to the ultimate human selfishness, the explanation of ego and self-interest…

We can summarize that the 18 needs (basic + secondary) described above, are the driving force behind everything in our lives. In other words, everything we do, think, choose, and say in our lives is the result of one or more of the described needs. 

This is also the reason for the notion that human beings are inherently selfish and that we all act to satisfy our own needs. Even when we think and act for the benefit of another person, the ultimate goal is still to satisfy one or more of our own needs. 

What all people have in common is that each person possesses all of the mentioned mechanisms (serving to satisfy needs). Therefore, we often refer to these mechanisms as characteristics of human nature. 

And this is no accident. As has become clear, if we do not satisfy these needs, we will not survive as a species.

This is important for one more reason – it is good to understand that our needs should come first.

Why?

Because we won’t be able to fully take care of anyone else if we haven’t taken care of ourselves first!

Sounds counter-intuitive right?

Socio-FunctionalF essence of human nature.jpg

Consider the following puzzle:

Imagine you are in a crashed plane. Everything burns. There are you, a mother with a small child, and an elderly person on the plane. Everyone but you is stuck without being able to move. There is only one wet blanket available that you could use to protect someone.

Who will you use the blanket for?

The correct answer is – for you. And this is not accidental… All participants in the example will have a greater chance of survival if you save yourself with the blanket and go to seek help. Otherwise, no matter whom you save, you all die – remember, they’re stuck!

And while this is an imaginary scenario, we can easily think of real-life examples. Here are a few:

  • A mother could not fully care for her child if her needs were not met (at least to some extent). Otherwise, she becomes irritable, short-tempered, neglectful and unreasonable. It focuses on the wrong things and misses important details in the context of child care.
  • A husband could not take care of his wife if his needs were not met (at least to some extent). Otherwise, he too, like the above example, will feel, think and act against her instead of for her.
  • A leader in an organization could not take care of the needs of the organization if his needs were not met (at least to some extent). Otherwise, he will look for ways to extract maximum benefits for himself, which will lead to the neglect of organizational processes, and hence lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of the organization.

All this comes to show the profound misunderstanding in the modern world of the importance of healthy selfishness.

That said, it’s important to clarify what healthy selfishness means. Selfishness should never come “at the expense” of other people. Or in other words – one should always prioritize one’s own needs, BUT without preventing others from doing the same or harming other people’s needs.

Ok, but why are people different you ask? And why are some people more clearly expressed, egoists than others?

This is how we get to the idea of the similarities and differences between people…

What all people have in common is that each person possesses all of the mentioned mechanisms (serving to satisfy needs).

Therefore, we often call these mechanisms universal characteristics of human nature.

Differences between people, in turn, are due to the degree and strength with which each of these characteristics manifests itself in each individual.

We can think of this “manifestation” as a scale from 1% to 100%. The closer the individual’s score is to 1%, the less pronounced the specific characteristic is. Conversely, the closer it is to 100%, the more strongly it is manifested.

As it became clear above, the mentioned characteristics are actually the socio-functional mechanisms that we use to satisfy our needs.

Therefore, the higher the scores on all mechanisms for satisfying a given need, the more capable we are of satisfying it, and the more time, attention, energy, and resources we will devote to satisfying it.

Why do we care?

Very simply – the more time, attention, energy, and resources we devote to satisfying a given need, the less we have left for other needs.

At some point, this makes us “good” at satisfying some needs at the expense of others. or in other words, it builds in us “strengths” for certain things and “weaknesses” for others.

An important understanding of “strengths” and “weaknesses” is that they are not “good” or “bad” on their own.

They are only so in a certain context.

To illustrate what has been said, we will give an example:

One of the mechanisms from the group of Goalorientedness (for satisfying the need to move towards the useful in the future) is called “Energy”. High scores on the scale (trait) “Energy” (describing a person’s tendency to be active, energetic, and to think, act, and generally function “at a higher speed” than other people) would be useful for a person who deals with sports, for example.

On the other hand, the same high scores on the scale in question would not be of such importance for a person working as a watchmaker, for example.

Thus, we arrive at the logical question of how a person can objectively assess what his results are for each of the individual characteristics (how strong are the manifestations of the individual mechanisms specifically for him) and, accordingly, what would he be best at according to his profile.

And the answer is: through individual psychological profiling. (You can learn more about this here)

This raises a significant question: Can a person change?

An important topic that we should touch on is the question of whether all these characteristics that we have mentioned and that we can “measure” through psychological profiling are permanent over time, or can a person develop and change? 

There is no simple answer… 

Although human nature is lasting (durable) and hard to change, there are scenarios where it can change over time. Here they are: 

  • If a person suffers a serious trauma (for example, a serious accident or physical injury) capable of permanently changing the internal biochemistry of his body and/or lifestyle.
  • If a person drastically changes the environment in which he lives. For example, after a secluded life on a livestock farm in Africa, to move to a large, cold northern city in Finland, where his daily life is connected with sales and constant contact with many people.
  • If, for some reason, biochemical, and genetic processes or diseases are triggered in his body, which significantly changes its neuro-biochemical structure.
  • If a person undergoes psychotherapy or another intensive process of working with professionals in the context of his personality.
  • If a person (for one reason or another) permanently fails to satisfy any of the previously described needs for long periods of time (years).

To summarise, it is good to understand that change in human nature is possible, but it is difficult, slow, and often not very drastic. 

This suggests that an important step in a person’s life is to seek a fit between his human nature and the demands of the environment. If we think about it, since it is difficult for a person to change, if he wants to be successful, satisfied, and happy in life, it makes much more sense to strive to find jobs, long-term intimate partners, hobbies, etc., that are in harmony with his characteristics, instead of ones that require radically different traits (See the example of tempo-rhythm above). 

The ultimate personal responsibility and luck – explained

 

The already-established understanding of the Socio-Functional essence of human nature informs us about what makes us do the things we do. 

In fact, summing up the influence of all the constructs and mechanisms described above, we can claim that they are responsible for more than 99% of everything we do, think, choose, speak, and believe. 

This is an extremely important finding, as it helps us to realize that for every outcome in our life, everything that happens to us (or at least 99% of it) is actually due to ourselves. 

To test this thesis, we can try to analyze our previous experiences, which will lead us to the conclusion that there is no event in our life that cannot be traced back in time to something we said, did, decided, or thought of.  (or respectively something that we did NOT say, do, decided, or thought)

This practically means that at the end of the day, we are fully responsible for everything in our lives! 

In order to address the obvious question – “And where does the other 1% go?” – the Socio-Functional Theory examines the concept of “Luck” in the context of the already described human characteristics:

Luck is those events, circumstances, and phenomena for which objectively there was no information that a person could receive, understand and use in advance in order to influence the events.

It is important to clarify that if such information existed, but the person for one reason or another did not capture, process, and use it, then we are no longer talking about luck, but about the inability to cope, which automatically turns it into a personal responsibility again. 

With this, the Socio-Functional Theory exhausts the cause-and-effect relationships for everything in human life. 

 From here on, the question follows: “What do we do with this knowledge?

Since knowledge is only meaningful and useful in the context of its real-world applicability, to conclude, we will focus on the 6 areas that matter most to us as humans and to the quality of our lives.

We say that these areas of life matter most because they often take up most of our time, effort, resources, and awareness.

In addition, the things we do in these 6 areas of our life largely determine its quality.

Making an effort to improve any one of those 6 areas has a lasting, holistic, positive impact on each of the other 5, thus each contributing to our overall happiness, satisfaction, and meaning in our lives.

The Socio-Functional Theory of Human Nature describes the six most important areas of human life as follows:

  • Relationships, Intimacy, and Love
  • Parenthood
  • Health
  • Career, Business, and Leadership
  • Social contacts and Reputation
  • Personal development

And since the reason we created this theory and our main mission is to help people live happy, meaningful, and fulfilling lives, we offer you just that – to help you master the ability to apply this knowledge in the 6 main areas of life, in order to improve it in each of them.

Find out more about the applicability of Socio-Functional Theory and the problems it solves – here…

And if you want to learn more about your human nature and its manifestations in any of the 6 areas described, we offer you the process of in-depth psychological profiling, which aims to shed light on the characteristics of your human nature described in the theory, and the ways in which these characteristics influence of your life…

The Socio-Functional Theory was created after an in-depth meta-analysis of the last 100 years of psychological literature and its cross-reference with the most recent discoveries in the fields of neurobiology, social psychology, and the field of psychometrics. Here is an extensive reference list:

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  • “The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature” by Steven Pinker, Penguin, 2002
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    Psychological Profiling – Explained

    know-thyself

    Psychological Profiling – Explained

    WARNING: Understanding psychological profiling and undergoing the process yourself could completely change your life! 

    Psychological profiling is the process of in-depth analysis of a person’s deep psychological characteristics that are responsible for their overall behaviors, choices, and words. In simple terms, information about these characteristics provides clarity on how and why a person is likely to behave in the future, as well as the reasons behind their past actions.

    Now, you might be wondering about the specific characteristics involved in psychological profiling.

    Different profiling methodologies examine and assess various types of characteristics.

    However, below is a comprehensive list of potential characteristics with psychological relevance that can be examined and assessed.

    If you are considering undergoing such a process, it is advisable to find a methodology that assesses as many of these characteristics as possible:

    • Psychological needs (deep subconscious drives)
    • Susceptibility to different emotions (emotional mechanisms)
    • Typical patterns of thinking (intellectual mechanisms)
    • Physiological predispositions with psychological significance (physical givens relevant to psychological needs)
    • Levels of interpersonal sensitivity and interpersonal tendencies (interpersonal emotionality)
    • Social skills and group mechanisms (social mechanisms)
    • Adaptive habits (typical behaviors)
    • Maladaptive (toxic) behaviors (typical problematic behaviors)
    • Core values (beliefs, attitudes, preferences, prejudices/biases)
    • The combination of these characteristics forms what is commonly referred to as human nature. Understanding this concept leads us to the question: So what? Any knowledge is meaningful only if it can be used in real life. The value of understanding others and ourselves lies in the practical application of this knowledge.

    Here is a list of potential areas of life that can be better understood and improved through psychological profiling:

    1. Needs Satisfaction & Psychological Health: Psychological profiling provides a clear picture of an individual’s basic psychological needs and identifies barriers preventing the fulfillment of those needs. It also sheds light on the predisposition to psychological disorders and suggests preventive measures.
    2. Protection: Profiling reveals major risks to an individual’s physical safety, public reputation, and personal image.
    3. Physical Health & Well-Being: Profiling offers clarity on the health risks associated with a person’s typical behaviors and potential health issues they may face.
    4. Dealing with Stress: Profiling identifies hidden stress sources and equips individuals with the skills to develop appropriate coping mechanisms, timely identification of stressful situations, and overall stress avoidance.
    5. Personal Development: Profiling helps identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas where a person may possess talent, facilitating personal growth and saving time by focusing on specific areas.
    6. Hobbies, Fun & Pleasure: Profiling identifies the areas of life that bring maximum pleasure and joy, enabling individuals to live life to the fullest.
    7. Having a Successful Career: Profiling sheds light on personal characteristics that may hinder career and business growth. It helps individuals aim for the right career path based on their profile.
    8. Money & Wealth: Profiling reveals subconscious tendencies and behaviors that may hinder wealth accumulation, allowing individuals to address those issues.
    9. Relationships: Profiling helps unravel the reasons behind difficulties in finding a partner, building relationships, and creating functional families. It assists individuals in identifying potential partners and improving current relationships. It answers the question, “Why are things not going well?”
    10. Parenthood: Profiling provides insight into the influence one has over their children, how their imperfections affect their children, and suggests ways to improve parenting skills. It answers questions like “Why do my children act the way they do, and why don’t they listen?” It also brings clarity to the question, “What do they need?” (even if they are not profiled).
    11. Getting Recognition and Social Status: Profiling helps understand why one may not receive the recognition and respect they deserve. It also suggests actions to improve their situation.
    12. Making Rational Decisions: Profiling helps identify subconscious biases, irrationalities, and mental distortions that hinder rational thinking. It enhances awareness of emotional influences and develops emotional intelligence.
    13. Improving Efficiency: Profiling reveals how a person’s energy is wasted and suggests ways to optimize the use of energy, time, resources, and social contacts.
    14. Social Contacts: Profiling provides an in-depth understanding of social mechanisms at play during interactions with others. It addresses the question, “Why do some people dislike me?” It offers insights into forming relationships with the right people based on an individual’s profile and suggests areas of improvement for more enjoyable socialization.
    15. Gaining Power: Psychological profiling sheds light on why individuals struggle to influence others and gain control over processes. It enables individuals to understand what it takes to achieve goals through others or as a group. It also helps identify how others might influence and manipulate them, thus enabling self-protection.
    16. Helping Others: Profiling brings clarity to the reasons why people sometimes fail to appreciate our help. It provides guidance on how to provide effective help and seek assistance when needed.
    17. Getting Accepted by Others and Receiving Fair Treatment: Profiling reveals problematic behaviors that may negatively impact how others perceive us. Our choices, words, and actions influence people’s opinions, which, in turn, have consequences for our lives and chances of success. Psychological profiling sheds light on how others perceive us and the negative social consequences that may arise.
    18. Happiness: Lastly, profiling brings perfect clarity to the activities, circumstances, people, and things that bring happiness to individuals. It answers the question, “What is happiness for me?” based on their profile.

    The knowledge gained through psychological profiling can be applied in various areas of life. Here are a few examples:

    • Couple’s therapy: Profiling can identify differences between partners as sources of relationship problems.
    • Individual therapy: Profiling helps identify the root causes of psychological issues in individuals.
    • Parenting support programs: Profiling assists parents in addressing parenting challenges.
    • Career consulting: Profiling identifies suitable career paths and developmental needs for individuals.
    • Leadership development: Profiling determines appropriate developmental programs for individuals in leadership positions.
    • Personnel selection: Profiling assesses whether a person is a good fit for a specific position or organization.
    • Reputation management programs: Profiling identifies critical weak points that may damage an individual’s reputation.
    • Criminal profiling: Profiling aids in identifying perpetrators of crimes.
    • These are just a few examples, and there are many other areas where psychological profiling can be beneficial.

    Now that you have an understanding of what psychological profiling is, its benefits, and its potential applications, you might want to consider which areas of your life could benefit from such a process. Why not consider undergoing it yourself?

    If the idea tempts you, we propose you contact our partners at PeopleFixer.com! They can offer you this service, in full – meaning analysis of the full list of the types of characteristics of your human nature mentioned at the beginning of the article:

     

    Learn More about Psychological Profiling as a Service –  Here