Individual's life goal is:

Appeared in: HP CHO -9 October 2022

Explanation

An individual's life goal is a classic example of a personal motive.
Personal motives are defined as highly individualized wants, aspirations, and ambitions that are not universally shared.
Unlike other motives, life goals are unique to each person and are powerful determinants of their long-term behavior and choices.
This category also includes vocational ambitions, specific interests, and personal habits.

Option A: Social motives are needs acquired through social interaction, such as the need for affiliation, status, or power. While a life goal might be influenced by social factors, it is fundamentally an individual aspiration.
Option B: Biological motives are innate, physiological needs essential for survival, such as hunger, thirst, and sleep. They are universal and not individualized like a life goal.
Option D: An instinct is a complex, unlearned, and fixed pattern of behavior that is common to a species. Life goals are conscious, learned, highly variable, and involve complex planning, which is the opposite of an instinct.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of Human Motives as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding a patient's personal motives, such as their life goals, is crucial for developing patient-centered care plans that respect their values and priorities.
A nurse can use a patient's life goals as a powerful motivator to encourage adherence to treatment and participation in rehabilitation.
What if? If a patient's life goal was to return to their gardening hobby but they are recovering from a stroke, the nurse's approach would shift from just providing basic care to incorporating activities that improve fine motor skills and endurance, connecting them with occupational therapy to work towards their cherished goal.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key concept in the question, which is 'life goal'.
Next, analyze the options provided, recognizing they are different psychological classifications of motives.
Recall the definitions for each type of motive: Biological (survival), Social (group-related), and Personal (individualized).
Compare the concept of a 'life goal' to these definitions. A life goal is a highly unique, long-term aspiration specific to an individual.
Based on this comparison, conclude that 'life goal' best fits the description of a 'Personal motive'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QW-Yk7rE3L7P8aNxzEQ1uT

E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 6e Sem1 p. 205-207

E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 5e p. 204-206

Practise the full HP CHO -9 October 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.