Final answer:
Human behavior is driven by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, influenced by genetic factors, learned experiences, and conditioning. Theories, such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, provide insights into the range of human needs that motivate behavior. Determinists claim behavior is predetermined by past experiences and biological factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors that initiate, direct, and sustain human behavior over time include a variety of forces such as: genetic inheritance, physical drives, individual history of interactions, and conditioning through learned behaviors. Motivation can be driven by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsically motivated actions rely on internal satisfaction and self-determination, while extrinsically motivated actions are influenced by external rewards or the avoidance of negative outcomes.
Moreover, theories like Maslow's hierarchy of needs elucidate the complexity of human drives, from physiological needs to self-actualization. Observations of human behavior also suggest that operant conditioning and social experiences significantly shape our future actions and responsiveness to stimuli. Determinists argue that human actions are resultantly predetermined, stemming from our biological makeup and past experiences.