In An Introduction to Social Psychology (1908), William McDougall argued that all human thought and action are energised and directed by innate instincts, organised patterns of perception, emotion, and impulse that give behaviour its purposefulness rather than leaving it as a mere mechanical response; he proposed that each instinct (such as curiosity, self-assertion, or submission) contains its own goal-directed “conative” force, allowing individuals to move intentionally toward meaningful ends and to construct coherent social life, a view that foreshadowed later motivational psychology and emphasized that wellbeing flourishes when people recognize and channel their natural drives rather than suppress them. For personal wellbeing, McDougall’s framework suggests that understanding one’s instinctive motives can deepen self-knowledge, strengthen agency, and reduce inner conflict; for societal health, it highlights how shared instincts, such as those for companionship or justice, can be cultivated to support cooperation, moral development, and constructive collective purpose. Instinct can be a powerful force, but like any force, it must be harnessed to do good. Christian Psychology sees human instincts as best subjugated to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the individual and society.