Why do we act the way we do?

 It is said that any action we take in life has only one of four reasons, at least a major one. 

The action may be taken for enhancing a feeling of security - be it monetary, power of even emotional security. In scriptures, this is called artha.

Or the action may be driven by a need for entertainment - sensual or intellectual. This is also called kama.

Or the action may come from a space of willingness to do the right thing, which we believe is benevolent. The path followed is then one of dharma.

Or it may be an action that arises out of a need not to be bound down, to be free - from tension, from anxiety, or from a general sense of incompleteness. This is a need for moksha. 

The actions we take can be at a physical level, an emotional level or at an intellectual level.

Let us take a look at some examples.