The motivations for action beyond Pain and Pleasure: an evolutionary perspective
Welfare Footprint Institute. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23844313 (2026)
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Abstract
But are affective states the only form of behavioral guidance? Are there forms of guidance that predate them, from before sentience (the capacity to feel anything at all, good or bad) emerged? Even bacteria behave adaptively, and they are certainly not sentient. And after sentience emerged, were there other mechanisms that do not depend on Pain and Pleasure? Situating the affective layer within a larger evolutionary architecture of behavior also clarifies what Pain and Pleasure are, by showing more sharply what they are not.
I propose distinguishing three broad forms of behavioral guidance, roughly in the order in which they emerged: pre-affective control, affective control and post-affective control. Organisms do not need to get rid of one to develop the next. They overlap, interact, persist and recombine, and more than one can be operative within the same act.
Recommended citation:
Alonso, W. J. (2026). The Motivations for Action Beyond Pain and Pleasure: An Evolutionary Perspective. Welfare Footprint Institute Technical Paper Series. 262. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23844313
Also published on Substack: https://welfarefootprint.substack.com/p/the-motivations-for-action-beyond