Think for a moment about what inspired you to pick up this book. Maybe you're thinking about becoming a psychologist, or perhaps you simply want to learn more about the human mind and behavior. The “thing” that led you to begin reading this text is what researchers refer to as motivation, which includes the biological, social, emotional, and cognitive forces that instigate and guide your behavior. When you think about some of your most basic needs, such as thirst and hunger, they are pretty primitive when viewed from an instinctual and evolutionary standpoint. It's the internal processes propelling you to act that become complicated when examined more closely. This chapter will distinguish between the different types of motives people respond to; how to recognize them cognitively, physiologically and emotionally; the dangers of misinterpreting their signals; and their role in sexual behavior.