Using Our Deepest Emotional Cravings to Understand and Predict Behavior-and Examine Them When Applied to Donald Trump

The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #311

Many models of human behavior exist to help make understanding the decisions people make easier to understand…and predict. Many of those examine human needs.

In terms of sustaining human life, the authentic needs are oxygen, shelter, food, and water. If you don’t have those…you’re dead. They are truly needs.

Emotionally and psychologically, however, I have long preferred look at things in terms of our deepest emotional cravings.

If I crave security…but don’t satisfy that craving, my life will likely get squirrley and lead me to do some stupid stuff…but…I won’t be dead in 72 hours. If I go without water for 72 hours in hot, humid conditions…the odds are that I’ll be pushing up daisies…soon.

Understanding why people make the decisions they do...especially those in positions of power...requires a deeper exploration of the deepest emotional human cravings that drive every action…decision…and reaction.

These cravings are universal, though the strategies people use to fulfill them can vary significantly. By recognizing and analyzing these emotional needs…we can better understand people's motivations and anticipate their future actions. This framework can even help us alter their/our paths for positive change.

In this issue of Jack Hopkins Now, we’ll explore how the Deepest Emotional Human Cravings affect decision-making; we’ll also apply the model to Donald Trump, a man recognized by many as a sociopath.

The Deepest Emotional Human Cravings

Before we examine how these cravings play out in real-world decisions… it’s important to understand the deepest emotional cravings that drive human behavior:

The Craving for Security:

The deep emotion craving for security seeks stability…predictability…and control. Our decisions often aim to avoid risk and ensure safety and comfort. In decision-making…this craving manifests as a desire to maintain the status quo and reduce uncertainty.

The Craving for Change:

Change is driven by a craving for variety…surprise…and excitement. The craving for change leads us to strive to satisfy the experience of unpredictability and novelty; a sense of thriving on the excitement that comes with the unknown.

The Craving for Importance:

The craving for importance is the desire to feel special…validated…and irreplaceable. This craving leads to seeking recognition and validation from others and often striving to stand out or achieve something that makes us feel needed and significant.

The Craving for Heart-Centered Bonds:

This craving revolves around meaningful connections, relationships…and love. When satisfying this craving, we seek a sense of belonging and a deep emotional connection. It’s a craving for harmony…empathy… support, and forming close-knit bonds with others—heart-centered bonds.

The Craving for Development:

The craving for development prompts us to engage in strategies for personal growth and self-improvement. When actively moving towards fulfilling this craving…we are seeking to become better versions of ourselves, whether through learning… acquiring new skills…or pushing our boundaries to improve.

The Craving for Ascendency:

The craving for ascendency involves the desire to make a positive impact on others and contribute to the greater good. When engaged in strategies and behaviors to satisfy our craving for ascendency…we focus on things like helping others…advancing their communities…or improving society in meaningful ways.

The Four Overarching Principles of Craving Fulfillment

Understanding the deep emotional cravings alone isn't enough; we also need to consider how these cravings influence behavior.

There are four overarching principles that govern how human cravings shape actions and decisions:

All Cravings Must Be Met:

Every person requires these emotional cravings to be met…if they are to feel a sense of completeness at any given time.

If one craving is unmet…it creates a vacuum…which we will fill using available strategies; whether they be healthy strategies…or really unhealthy. This is why understanding the underlying emotional cravings is essential: unmet cravings drive behaviors…sometimes in harmful or dysfunctional ways.

Cravings Transcend Values:

When emotional cravings conflict with our values, the craving typically wins. You might not want to admit this (most don’t), but you can undoubtedly identify.

For instance, a person may value honesty but lie if doing so helps them meet their emotional craving for importance or security.

This principle helps explain why good people sometimes make decisions that contradict their moral compass: they’re trying to meet emotional cravings…and their strategy may not align with their values.

Every Behavior Has Positive Intent:

Behavior, no matter how seemingly negative…is an attempt to meet an emotional craving. People are motivated by the desire to reduce discomfort and increase comfort…peace…and pleasure.

This principle invites empathy and understanding, recognizing that harmful behavior usually stems from a misguided attempt to fulfill an unmet craving.

Of course, when the same behavior happens again and again (as it has in the case of Donald Trump) when the damage it has caused has been brought to their attention, our empathy rightly goes out the window, and we develop a “No more slack for you!” attitude.

Change Comes Through Better Strategies:

To change behavior…we must replace ineffective strategies with more effective ones. Simply stopping a harmful behavior won’t work if it still serves to meet an unmet craving. True change comes when individuals develop new…healthier ways to fulfill their emotional cravings,

If you quit smoking cold turkey, when you’ve long used smoking as a way to connect with others, you’re going to have big problems unless you’ve come up with another way to help you connect with others.

Applying These Deep Emotional Cravings to Donald Trump

Now, let's explore how these emotional cravings play out with Donald Trump, understanding the motivations behind his actions and how they might predict future decisions.

The Craving for Security in Political Strategy:

One of the most prominent emotional needs in the Trump administration is security. This craving is evident in many of Trump’s decisions, from border security measures to his “America First” policy.

Trump emphasizes the craving for stability…particularly regarding national security and economic safety. His approach to policy, including immigration and trade, was designed to provide a sense of control and certainty to his base…often through isolationist or protectionist measures.

Predicted Behavior:

Moving forward, the way Trump has demonstrated he meets his craving for security is likely to find him continuing to advocate for policies that emphasize control and predictability…such as stricter immigration laws and trade tariffs that aim to protect national industries.

The Craving for Change:

One of the ways Trump meets his craving for change is through his constant shifts in rhetoric and policy. His actions usually seek to disrupt the political status quo…which energizes both his supporters and his critics.

Whether through unexpected tweets or sudden policy reversals, Trump thrives on unpredictability and surprise…keeping the media and the public engaged with his ever-changing strategies…all while satisfying his craving for change.

Predicted Behavior:

Having noted how Trump fulfills his craving for change, I would bet the farm (if I had a farm) on his continued prioritization of creating disruptions or introducing new and unexpected policies that keep their base excited and engaged…even if those changes create controversy.

The Craving for Importance:

Trump’s craving for importance is one of his most defining characteristics. From his branding as a billionaire to his constant quest for validation from his supporters and the media…Trump constantly seeks recognition and to be seen as an irreplaceable leader. His frequent use of “winning” language and personal accolades further underscores this emotional craving.

Predicted Behavior:

Trump will continue emphasizing the importance of his roles…taking actions that maintain his visibility and public acclaim. He will prioritize policies or actions that put him in the spotlight and highlight his self-perceived “contributions.”

The Craving for Heart-Centered Bonds:

Trump’s relationship with his supporters often takes on the appearance of a heart-centered bond. His loyal base feels a deep emotional connection to him…which he nurtures through rallies…personal appeals…and reinforcing shared values.

This bond was central to creating his political identity, with much of his success resting on the loyalty and trust he cultivated among his followers.

I should point out that with Trump…a likely sociopath…it is a one-sided heart-centered “bond.”

It allows his followers to feel as though they have a bond with him, but he almost certainly doesn’t feel a heart-centered bond with them; he only feigns feeling that with his words.

The “bond,” his followers feel…only helps satisfy his deep emotional cravings for importance and security.

Sociopaths do not crave nor experience heart-centered bonds with others…at least not in a way that non-sociopathic people are familiar with.

For the general population, the deep emotional craving for heart-centered bonds with other people will usually be met. We’ll find a strategy…be it a good one, or not so good; satisfying that craving is intensely desired by most of us.

Predicted Behavior:

With Trump’s history of creating faux heart-centered bonds, he will continue to emphasize loyalty and emotional connection…focusing on creating the appearance of strong…one-sided…supportive relationships with his supporters and followers. This will continue to manifest in further polarizing rhetoric and a focus on creating “us versus them” dynamics.

The Craving for Development:

Trump’s political and business persona was built around the idea of development: self-improvement…growth…and the "American Dream."

One big problem with that persona; it’s all BS. His rhetoric has always emphasized “self-made success” and personal empowerment…appealing to people who desire to improve their own lives by following his model.

There’s simply no supporting evidence of Trump being a “self-made” man.

Starting with 450 million dollars of your father’s money, you are anything but a “self-made” man.

I should point out that we also don’t find anything that supports the idea of him ever having had a deep emotional craving for personal development in any way the average person would consider a human being having grown or developed positively.

Predicted Behavior:

Expect to see continued efforts to promote personal growth and success to others (for his gain), particularly through economic policies that encourage entrepreneurship and individual advancement…but the complete lack of any authentic indicator of Trump having a deep emotional craving for his inner personal development.

That word “sociopath” comes up again. While the following is not a professional term… it’s one most everyone understands: Trump is broken.

He’s not like most people. If you think you’re already perfect, why would you ever have a deep emotional craving for personal development? He doesn’t.

That’s why, when it comes to Trump and the deep emotional craving for heart-centered bonds…you have to look past him, and focus on the general population. With most of the rest of the people on the planet...they do have a deep emotional craving for development.

The Craving for Ascendency:

Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” encapsulated the need for ascendency: a desire to contribute to something larger than oneself. First, however, let’s address the phrase “Make America Great Again”; it belongs to former President Ronald Reagan. That’s who first coined the phrase. Donald swiped it from him. (Just wanted to make that clear.)

This craving for contributing to national greatness resonated deeply with his supporters…who believed that his leadership could restore America’s prominence on the world stage.

Does Trump truly have a deep and personal emotional craving for ascendancy? Yes. I think he does. Of course, it’s only for his vision of a “Great America,” (which we know is destructive and hate-filled) because to exit this Earth having shaped the country into how he desired it to be, would, to him...be the ultimate “legacy” for etching his name deeply into the annals of “The Greatest President...Ever.” (Go ahead and puke. I’ll wait.)

Predicted Behavior:

Since Trump’s deep emotional craving for ascendency is tied to the legacy he believes he is creating...you should expect him to continue to push policies that he believes contribute to the appearance of national strength...often focusing on military...economic, and cultural policies that promote what he thinks reflect national pride and international influence.

The fact that the policies he’s pushing are undermining national strength…cratering the economy...and alienating millions of Americans…isn’t lost on him; he just doesn’t care.

He likely believes that’s all part of his legacy...and will “prove” he was strong enough to do what needed to be done to achieve something bigger than himself; something “God-like,” that others before him were “too afraid” to do.

In short, his strategy to satisfy his craving for ascendancy is shoddy. Like so many other strategies he has employed…it does the opposite of what he believes it to be.

Looking Past Donald Trump

By understanding the deep emotional cravings that drive decision-making...we can understand why most individuals make certain choices and often predict their future actions with better than average accuracy.

Even with someone as f*cked up as Donald Trump, recognizing the interplay of security...change...importance...heart-centered bonds...development... and ascendency helps explain much of his behavior in a way that can allow us to better grasp what’s actually driving him, emotionally.

Ultimately, in our personal lives...the more we understand how these emotional cravings shape not only our own decision-making...but the decisions made by others, the better equipped we are to influence outcomes and create positive...long-lasting change.

While what I’ve covered here warrants, at the very least…an entire book, I hope this brief look has given you something to think about; something that you might find working its way into your ongoing thinking and processing of the decisions of yourself and others.

Best,

Jack