Which concept addresses the reasons behind behavior, such as why we eat or pursue goals?

The concept that addresses the reasons behind behavior, such as why we eat or pursue goals, is motivation. Motivation encompasses the processes that initiate, direct, and sustain goal-oriented behaviors. It includes both intrinsic factors, like personal desires or interests, and extrinsic factors, such as rewards or social influences that drive individuals to take action. For example, hunger serves as a biological motivation for eating, while personal aspirations fuel the pursuit of goals.

The other concepts, while related to behavior, focus on different aspects. Emotion pertains to feelings that can influence behavior but does not specifically explain the reasons behind actions. Cognition deals with mental processes like thinking, reasoning, and decision-making, which can support motivation but do not directly explain the underlying reasons for behavior. Behaviorism, on the other hand, emphasizes observable behaviors and the stimuli that elicit them, often neglecting the internal motives that drive those behaviors. Therefore, motivation is the term that best captures the underlying reasons for behavior.