What makes us humans?

 

I just asked ChatGPT, “What makes us humans?”  Here was the response that was generated:

What makes us human is a mix of biological, cognitive, emotional, and social factors that set us apart from other species. Here are some key aspects:

1. Consciousness & Self-Awareness

We have a deep understanding of ourselves, our emotions, and our existence. We can reflect on our past, anticipate the future, and question our own purpose.

2. Complex Thinking & Problem-Solving

Humans can think abstractly, create complex ideas, and solve problems beyond immediate survival needs. We use logic, reasoning, and creativity to innovate.

3. Emotion & Empathy

We experience deep emotions like love, joy, sadness, and guilt. Our ability to empathize and connect with others emotionally is a core part of our humanity.

4. Language & Communication

Our ability to create and use language (both spoken and written) allows us to share complex ideas, preserve knowledge, and build civilizations.

5. Morality & Ethics

Humans develop moral values, a sense of right and wrong, and societal rules. We can act selflessly, consider the well-being of others, and make ethical decisions.

6. Creativity & Art

We create art, music, literature, and culture—not just for survival, but to express emotions, tell stories, and leave a legacy.

7. Relationships & Social Structures

Unlike many animals, humans form deep social bonds that go beyond survival. We build families, communities, and societies based on shared values and cooperation.

8. Curiosity & Innovation

Humans constantly seek knowledge, explore the unknown, and push boundaries. Our curiosity has led to scientific discoveries, space exploration, and technological advancements.

9. Imperfection & Growth

We make mistakes, learn, adapt, and grow. Our ability to recognize flaws and strive for improvement is a defining part of being human.

In short, being human is about thinking, feeling, creating, and connecting—with ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

I then searched the results for the word “behavior”.  Interestingly, but not surprisingly, behavior did not come up a single time in generating a definition of what makes us humans.  Rather, it was words like social, connection, communication, curiosity, thinking, emotion, empathy, imperfection and growth. 

In many ways, this is why DIR works so well.  It helps us, as imperfect humans, grow.  It is focused on human connections and how those connections actually help us expand our capacity for engagement, communication, problem solving, thinking, curiosity, and reasoning, to name a few.

While those that use ABA can measure outcomes easily, behaviors are not what makes us humans and changing behaviors is not the key to helping us grow and develop as humans.  Feeling and thinking are much more the areas we need to focus.  Feelings come first and as we feel the world around us and connect with others, we then develop and deepen our capacity for thinking in innovative, creative, unique, and meaningful ways.  All of these words, and each of the items ChatGPT highlighted relate to the developmental capacities that are described in DIR and are the core focus of all goals of DIRFloortime.  If you are a Floortimer, I am certain you will see particular Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities (FEDCs) clearly associated with each of the nine points ChatGPT gave for what makes us humans.  And if you are an ABAer, I am sorry to say that you won’t see behavior modification, extinction, or reinforcement in this definition of what makes us humans.  

DIR helps us grow and develop in the ways that make us humans.  ABA helps humans behave…but, that is not what makes us humans!