#Values

A new analysis released on July 6, 2025, from a respected behavioral expert highlights that humans are born with core dispositions—what the author calls “basic humanity.” As we grow, we navigate these primal instincts and often contradict them. The study explores how inner drives shape well-being and social interaction, with clear relevance for Thai families, schools, and communities.

Thai culture has long valued harmony, interdependence, and emotional restraint. At the same time, modernization pushes toward individual autonomy. The findings help explain Thai family dynamics, classroom relationships, and workplace culture, tying into current discussions on mental health in Thailand and beyond. Data from local health and education authorities show growing interest in how innate drives influence daily life and social well‑being.

A thought-provoking new report published on July 6, 2025, by a leading behavioral expert in Psychology Today reveals that we are all born with certain innate dispositions—what the author calls “basic humanity”—and, as we grow, we learn to navigate or sometimes contradict these primal instincts. The research calls attention to the fundamental and often conflicting drives that shape us as humans and offers essential insights into how these inner tensions influence personal well-being and social behavior.

A growing body of research, echoed by recent health and happiness studies, questions society’s fixation on living an “interesting” life. In Thailand, social media culture and workplace norms push people to showcase dramatic milestones and enviable adventures. Yet evidence suggests lasting satisfaction often comes from lives that appear ordinary on the surface.

The discussion highlights how fear of “falling behind” has become widespread. People switch jobs not just for advancement, but to avoid the impression of stagnation. Travel choices are increasingly made for social media appeal, and the question “What do you do?” now serves as a social test—rewarding those who earn admiration.

A growing wave of research, echoed in a recent VegOut Magazine article, challenges our cultural obsession with living an “interesting” life. While social media and workplace dynamics pressure individuals to continually impress others with enviable experiences and dramatic career milestones, evidence suggests that true satisfaction may come from lives that—on the surface—seem profoundly ordinary.

As the article highlights, anxiety about “falling behind” has reached epidemic levels. This pressure manifests in increasingly common behaviors, such as job-hopping among young professionals not out of dissatisfaction, but to avoid being seen as unambitious. Many people choose vacation destinations with Instagram in mind, and the question “What do you do?” has become a social test, rewarding only those who can elicit admiration.

Thailand finds itself at a crossroads of rapid social change: modern families are now grappling with questions of how best to raise children, as Western influences blend with longstanding Thai cultural traditions. A recent opinion published in The Guardian, penned by a grandparent observing the stark contrasts between parenting in Spain and the UK, has ignited fresh debate about “child-centred” parenting, a model increasingly popular across Thailand’s middle class. The writer argues that the Spanish “family-centred” approach nurtures happier, more grounded children compared to English-style “child-centredness,” which may inadvertently fuel anxiety and dependency. This raises urgent questions for Thai families—should we reconsider where the family, rather than the child, stands at the heart of our values?

Thailand stands at a pivotal moment as families navigate rapid social change. Western ideas about child-rearing have blended with enduring Thai traditions, prompting fresh questions about how to raise resilient children. A recent Guardian letter by a grandparent comparing Spain’s family-centred approach with the UK’s child-centred model has sparked renewed debate in Thai households about where the family’s priorities should lie.

The core message is simple: while kindness and respect toward children are essential, placing a child at the center of every decision can lead to anxiety and dependence. In Spain, the family unit takes precedence. From birth, children are expected to contribute to group harmony rather than assume they are the sole focus of attention. The author’s observations suggest Spanish children are generally more emotionally secure, with parents who feel less frustration. For Thai families, this raises a timely question: can we balance individual needs with the strength of a closely connected family?