A Critical Assessment of Inherent Motivation based on the Foundations of Islamic Anthropology

Humans behave in life based on various motives. Motives are the main factor in human movement. Therefore, it is important to evaluate and study motivation and its role in the formation, continuation and orientation of human behavior. One of the most important classifications regarding motivation is dividing it into inherent and obtained motivations. The main objective of this article is providing a critical assessment of inherent motivation based on the principles of Islamic anthropology.
In this article, analytical-descriptive method has been used to study the inherent theories of human motivation, particularly the instinct theory as a macro-theory of motivation. To this end, supporting and rejecting theories have been presented and critically analyzed based on Islamic anthropological foundations found in the works of Ayatollah Motahhari.
Findings and the results of this research showed that human motives based on Islamic anthropology can be classified in four groups of animal instincts, human instincts, human nature, and divine nature, which can also be viewed in whole as limited or unlimited.