Intriguing Insights #12 - You are what you do

I recently came across the concept of a behavioural fingerprint. What it talks about is how actions speak louder than words, and thus leave behind our behavioural fingerprint.

This made me think about behavioural identities or what personas emerge as an outcome of how one behaves in any given situation.

After much brain-racking I decided to look at it through the following three lenses:

Behavioural Motivations: Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic

Behavioural Outlook: Optimistic vs. Pessimistic

Behavioural Biases: Status quo vs. Action 

Plotting this on a 3 dimensional matrix I came up with eight Behavioral Identities.

Today's post is only going to introduce these eight identities. Over the next eight weeks I will deep dive into each one and bring them alive through their representation in popular culture - movies, songs, TV shows and ads.

Extrinsic - Optimistic - Action 

1. CELEBRATED

This persona is always positive, driven by how people see him and ready to take those necessary steps to ensure he is liked by all. He is the perfect Mr. Popular.

Extrinsic - Optimistic - Status Quo

2. COOL 

Now this persona is also positive and bothered by how people see him. But he has a rather relaxed way of going about it. It is often this attitude that draws people to him.

Extrinsic - Pessimistic - Action 

3. CHAMPION

Now here is someone who doesn't have a great world view of the future but is action oriented and motivated by his impact on others... he choses therefor to change these dreary forecasts by his behaviour.

Extrinsic - Pessimistic - Status Quo 

4. CAUTIONER

Next we have a guy who is also not so positive about the future and driven by how he is perceived - he takes on the role of a warner - no action just a precautionary announcement.  

Intrinsic - Optimistic - Action

5.CULTIVATOR

Now here is someone who is all about improving himself - he constantly seeks out new avenues to learn more and do new things and in effect cultivate himself.

Intrinsic - Optimistic - Status Quo 

6. CONTENTED

This is the guy who covets internal satisfaction and happiness and he tends to find it in almost any situation that he is in. Without ever needing to change a thing.

Intrinsic - Pessimistic - Action

7. CRAVER

And then you have the guy who is never satisfied with where he is. In every situation he finds the grass greener elsewhere and then strives to get there.

Intrinsic - Pessimistic - Status Quo

8. CYNICAL

And finally, here is the cynic, forever doubtful if anything will happen as expected. He will do nothing to change this as he is not sure if it is even worthwhile.

These eight Behavioural Identities are by no means exhaustive. All they do is see how people would react as an outcome of their motivations, outlooks and biases.

Some of them may appear to be too negative but that could well be an outcome of my own biases or behavioural traits. As I deep dive into each persona a deeper picture will emerge on the reason behind their actions or even inactions.

___

Thank you for reading this article — I hope you enjoyed it. If so, do share it on your social network via the buttons herewith. 

If you would like to receive all new posts and exclusive content subscribe to Thoths by Ra by clicking on this link.