Variety vs Certainty
Friend: Hey, wanna check out that new burger place?
Me: Nah... let’s just head to our usual chicken rice stall.
Friend: But we just went there yesterday. Don’t you wanna try something else?
Me: Why? I could eat chicken rice for a whole week and still enjoy it!
Ah... Good old, delicious chicken rice!
I had this conversation with my colleague yesterday, and now that I think about it, I've had plenty of similar ones throughout my life. It made me realize just how real our primal human desires are. They influence everything we do, whether we're aware of them or not. So hey, isn’t it better to recognize them and take control rather than be unconsciously driven by them?
That’s why I’m writing this blog post today, hoping to shed some light on this for you and help you become more aware of your underlying motivations.
In my last blog post, I talked about The Four Primal Human Desires: variety, certainty, belonging, and significance. To dive even deeper, these four desires can be grouped into two: variety vs. certainty, and belonging vs. significance.
I'd like to focus on variety vs. certainty for today. Put simply, these are the two ways of making observations; whether we're looking for variety or certainty.
You can think of it as hunters vs. farmers, where one seeks to explore the new while the other builds upon what they already have. In other words, are you an Explorer or Builder?
Explorers vs. Builders
How do you know which one you are? What are the signs? Let’s take a look:
1. Wanting Change vs. Wanting Predictability
- Explorers want something new. They are drawn to change, whether it's traveling to new places, switching careers, or trying out different hobbies.
- Builders, on the other hand, prefer predictability. They feel most comfortable with a structured routine, clear expectations, and a stable environment.
2. Wanting Freedom vs. Wanting Control
- Explorers prioritize flexibility. They enjoy making spontaneous decisions and dislike being tied down by strict rules or long-term commitments. They often prefer careers that allow autonomy, such as freelancing or entrepreneurship.
- Builders prefer control over their circumstances. They like to plan in advance, set clear benchmarks, and create structured environments where they feel in charge. Whether in their personal or professional lives, they find comfort in knowing what to expect.
3. Fearing Restrictions vs. Fearing Chaos
- Explorers fear being confined by rigid rules, strict schedules, or monotonous routines. They dislike feeling trapped in a job, relationship, or lifestyle that limits their options. Too much structure makes them restless.
- Builders fear unpredictability and disorder. A lack of structure makes them anxious, as they worry about things spiraling out of control. They prefer clear guidelines, stable routines, and well-defined expectations to avoid uncertainty.
4. Open to Various Options vs. Narrowing Down Options
- Explorers hesitate to commit too soon because they want to explore all possibilities before making a choice. They enjoy brainstorming, experimenting, and seeing where life takes them.
- Builders find comfort in making one decision and sticking to it. Whether it’s choosing a career path, a life partner, or a long-term goal, they like to focus on what works best and eliminate distractions.
5. Going with the Flow vs. Planning and Preparing
- Explorers embrace spontaneity and are comfortable adjusting to new circumstances as they arise. They are adaptable and enjoy taking life as it comes, often making last-minute plans or pivoting when needed.
- Builders believe in thorough preparation. They prefer to plan ahead, anticipate challenges, and set clear steps toward their future. They feel more at ease with a roadmap rather than relying on improvisation.
So, back to the question: do you want to try new restaurants or stick to familiar ones?
Of course, that’s an oversimplification. We humans aren’t one-dimensional. Builders can sometimes feel eager to try something new after months of the same routine, while Explorers can have moments of nostalgia, wanting to revisit a familiar spot.
But at their core, what is their pattern? Do they often seek variety, craving new options? Or do they seek certainty, wanting control over their situation?
Understanding this doesn’t just help you make sense of why people behave a certain way—it gives you insight into yourself. Recognizing your desires is the first step in identifying your underlying motivations. These desires influence everything we do.
If you're a Builder like me, you may now understand why you feel strongly about making safe choices, why a change of plans can ruin your whole day, and why you always want to prepare and plan extensively.
At the same time, you may start to recognize that some of these behaviors can be taken to the extreme, driven by unfounded fear. Just look at an Explorer, and you’ll see that your fears may be exaggerated.
And from there, you’ll learn that it’s time to step out of your comfort zone, whether you’re a Builder or an Explorer, by doing something you normally wouldn’t. Growth happens when we step away from our autopilot.
So guess what? We tried that new burger place in the end.
Just as additional info, those who are familiar with personality and cognitive functions may find this useful:
Explorers are those who have Extraverted Sensing (Se) or Extraverted Intuition (Ne) as their first or second function, while Builders are those who have Introverted Sensing (Si) or Introverted Intuition (Ni) as their first or second function.
If you’d like to know more, I highly recommend checking out Personality Ninja’s explanation on Type Perspective: Explorers vs Builders.