Steven Reiss, a professor of Psychology at Ohio State University and the author of several books including The Normal Personality.

Based on research from over 6,000 participants, Reiss suggests that intrinsic motivators or the reasons people have for initiating and performing voluntary behavior can be described as 16 basic desires.

We the people are more similar than we are led to believe…

While governments and other societal institutions may try to divide us, we the people must never forget that we are all on the same side, possessing common needs and desires.

16 Basic Human Desires, According to Steven Reiss

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Another great example that proves humanity’s commonalities is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid.

From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological (food and clothing), safety (job security), love and belonging needs (friendship), esteem, and self-actualization.

Needs lower in the hierarchy must be satisfied first before an individual can tend to needs higher up on the pyramid.

Why is the United States of America so divided?

We have more in common than we are manipulated to believe.

Manipulated by who you might ask?

Our institutions, via “institutional power.”

According to study.com, “Institutional Power” is the power wielded by entities including governments, churches, and corporations to control people and direct their behavior through the use of rewards and punishments. Institutional power exists in situations where authority has been socially approved and accepted as legitimate. In other words, institutions get their power from the fact that society as a whole agrees that they have a right to their authority over others.

The government, the media, education, the family unit, religious institutions, and banks are all considered institutions.

The Attempt to Divide is Rampant on Both Sides of the Political Spectrum

Democrats blame Republicans and Republicans blame Democrats. In the end, who suffers?

The “UNITED” States of America. Both parties suffer, as they blame one another and forget that they are both on the same team… We are all human-beings and most of us just want peace for ourselves and our families.

Until we the people recognize that we hurt ourselves by our very own actions, we will struggle to see any positive change and witness the destruction of our own nation before our eyes.

Most people share common desires for themselves, their families, and their communities. We only want the best for ourselves and our families. Leaders should unite the people of its country, not divide.

George Washington Agrees!

George Washington made a great point about how political parties would destroy the United States of America.

The former first president said, “However political parties may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

Our institutions have the power to shape and mold society to their liking.

The institutions have the power to make positive or negative changes. They have the power to achieve ANYTHING they want.

Think about it.

The institutions have the funds, power, influence, and “credibility” to achieve their greatest hopes and dreams. There is literally nothing stopping them from achieving whatever they wish, which is why many modern Americans believe the U.S. is actively being “destroyed from within.”

Citizens are calling for the Department of Education, the F.B.I., and various other alphabet agencies to be dismantled and defunded due to their immense corruption.

America is currently struggling with some of the highest inflation in history, as well as economic distress. We are officially in a recession, no matter how hard the U.S. government tries to manipulate and lie to our faces about the idea that we are “not.” They event went so far as to change the definition of a recession. Disinformation at its finest. Let’s call it what it is.

When the truth becomes lies and lies become “truth,” that’s how you know something isn’t right…

The U.S. government collects $5.3 trillion a year in taxes from hard-working Americans.

If you had $3.5 trillion dollars, how would you spend it?

Something about spending other people’s money that makes it so easy to mishandle…

READ MORE: 7 Foods That Cause Anxiety and Depression

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Elena Patestas is a journalist and writer for Valuetainment media. She attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and Adelphi University on Long Island, New York. She was born and raised in Roslyn, New York, and currently lives in Miami, Florida.

Elena is passionate about bringing positive change to our world and believes education is the root to solving many societal problems. After overcoming a chronic health condition, Elena became passionate about health and believes food is the key to preventing dis-ease and achieving optimum health.

Amongst her many goals, she hopes to bring positive, impactful change to our world to create a healthy, financially sound, and unified society.