The answer lies in an examination of each individual's values.

Returning to the four basis drives that were outlined earlier - desire to prevent loss, desire to promote gain, desire for approval of others, and desire for self-approval - we find that individuals who value investment are those who are motivated by a desire to promote gains, and a desire for self-approval.

Clearly, the amount of money that a person has at his or her disposal is not the determining factor, as there are many individuals who would use their last dollar in an effort to make a successful investment, while a great many very wealthy individuals have been content to dissipaite their wealth in purely consumptive activities.

The drive toward investment then occurs when an individual interprets his advantages as follows: "I would rather have less now, so that I may have more tomorrow."

This is the reverse of the drive that causes an individual to seek credit for consumer items.  In such a case, the individual is saying in effect, "I would rather have what I want now, even though I'll have to pay a higher price (through interest on the money borrowed) in order to obtain it now."

Most of us swing back and forth between wanting to enjoy every good thing right now, and wanting to enjoy even more good things in the future.

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