Lawrence and Nohria described in their book Driven: How
Human Nature Shapes Our Choices, the holistic and humanistic theory of
motivation divided into four categories: the drive to acquire, to bond, to
learn, and to defend. The authors described these drives as distinct and
ubiquitous and that individuals actively attempt to fulfill them. As for the
four houses at Hogwarts, let us examine which house values which drive.
Lawrence and Nohria explain that the drive to defend is
physically and socially protective. The drive to defend originates from the
response to dangerous situations and can extend to a protection of
relationships, acquisitions, and belief systems. The house of Gryffindor values
courage and nerve because these are character strengths that are vital to
protect and defend. The authors emphasized that the drive to defend is not
proactive but reactively triggered by perceived threats.
Next, Lawrence and Nohria discussed the drive to bond, which
is a social motivation to form relationships and develop mutual caring
commitments. The house of Hufflepuff values loyalty, tolerance, and fair play
because these are characteristics necessary for mutually beneficial
relationships. The drive to bond explains why individuals choose to identify
themselves with that of a group or a common good.
Third, Lawrence and Nohria illustrated the drive to learn as
the intention to understand the world around us and satisfy curiosity. This
drive exemplifies Ravenclaw since it values intelligence, creativity, and
wisdom; these are all traits motivated by the desire to learn. The desire to
learn fulfills our need to explore and grow, and cultivate other virtues since,
for Aristotle, the one cardinal virtue necessary for moral character
is practical wisdom (called phronesis), which allows us to discover the
virtuous mean between characters.
Finally, the drive to acquire, Lawrence and Nohria
mentioned, is the motivation to seek, take, and control objects and personal
experiences. This drive correlates with the Slytherin house, which values
ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness, which are important to the drive to
acquire.
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, we notice that the
Sorting Hat is considering placing Harry Potter into the house of Slytherin.
The Sorting Hat recognizes that Harry exemplifies the traits of ambition and
resourcefulness, as do other students in Slytherin. However, if we remember
that the Sorting Hat might not be sorting by ostensible traits but by tacit
motivations, then we can understand why the Sorting Hat placed Harry in
Gryffindor rather than Slytherin.
Defining Human Flourishing
Based on our understanding of the four-drive theory (to
learn, to bond, to acquire, and to defend) and the four houses of Hogwartz, we
can define human flourishing as seeking, experiencing, sharing, and defending
that which we believe is good, while not stymieing another's ability to seek,
experience, share, and defend his/her belief in the good. Additionally, based
on our new understanding, we can state that we desire not only to pursue happiness,
but also to experience it (individually and communally), as well as protect our
previously acquired happiness.
The psychologist Allport stated "whatmotivates each person is not some element common to all individuals, but his own particular pattern of tensions." By understanding and appreciating the value of the different cardinal motives in individuals, we can understand how to achieve a balanced collective of motives within a group of individuals, which in time can contribute to collective flourishing.
And if this has inspired you to look more into the secrets of Harry Potter.... maybe you would like to join me in the tour!
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