I would say, it is completely mind game, some plays without knowing, some having good/ evil intentions. But the most important part is knowing your behaviors well and overwrite it with the necessary instructions for the necessity. It can be easy to decode yourself but hard to overwrite the thoughts. Having sharp awareness and long active practices one can grow this successful habit aka Psychological/ Mind Theory.
Boom! Roy my man!
"It can be easy to decode yourself but hard to overwrite your thoughts."
The very train of thought I've been on for months. Thanks Roy. Awesome insight.
So...obviously I agree with Roy on that point, but not everyone gets to that point, of looking inward and THEN looking inward. Realising one's own processes, looking to disregard unwanted parts - but then hoping you have the motivation and stamina to re-write. But I digress.
For me Human behaviour is simple and it's complex. Pin was right about actions for reward. We instill that into our children at a very early age, learned behaviour. And from that, a lot of predictability in behaviour can be gleaned.
LittleLissa mentioned maturing as you get older, broadening horizons etc. Spot on. Every day is a school day. Just when you think you are content, the world changes and you have to adapt. I say world, but that could be your inner world also.
Getting older should be getting wiser, and if you're not then you're missing the complexities. Clearly I'm speaking from my own experiences and observations like the thread asks. I believe environment is crucial in early development, and some can sadly hamper the growth of mind. But it can still be overcome by inner reflection and action like Roy alluded to.
My thoughts on "how" we behave is this - either selfishly or altruistically. The tendency to choose either is down to the individual, their environment, their development, their education, their motives. The list is long. I suppose what I'm trying to say is there are an infinite combination of factors, different for everyone, which highlight the complexity. My belief is that most people want to behave altruistically, it's the default position, the inner moral code of an evolved species.
The "why" for me, is to become the best that you can be. Whether that's the "best" evil or "best" good (again down to the individual's motives).