desire

Desire is an affective state that motivates people to seek or obtain something. It can be conscious, as when one desires a cup of coffee, or unconscious, shaping choices through preferences and expectations. Desires are often contrasted with needs (essential for survival) and with wants (non-urgent or elective).

Desires vary by object and time frame. Short-term desires (cravings) arise quickly and may fade; long-term desires orient planning and life goals. They can be hedonic, seeking pleasure, or instrumental, serving a broader aim. Biologically, many desires involve the brain’s reward system and dopamine pathways that reinforce learning from cues predicting reward.

Psychology and philosophy treat desire as a central driver of action. Theories differ on whether desires are primary motives, how they relate to reason, and how they should be regulated. In modern psychology, intrinsic desires fuel self-determined behavior, while instrumental desires connect actions to external rewards. Some philosophies connote moderation or cultivation of desires as a virtue.

Cultural and religious perspectives view desire in diverse ways. Buddhism emphasizes craving as a source of suffering to be understood and tempered; Aristotle links desire to rational flourishing; contemporary ethics consider how social norms and institutions shape, constrain, or enhance desirable ends.

Desire also appears as a central theme in literature, art, and marketing, where it can drive identity, aspiration, and consumption. Neuroscience and psychology continue to study the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying desire to improve understanding of motivation and well-being.