This research constitutes a comprehensive and ambitious exploration seeking to draw inspiration from intrinsic motivation theories, which are grounded in assumptions about human nature and the motivating factors driving human actions. It centers on how intrinsic needs and extrinsic needs—comprising materialistic desires, and philanthropic inclinations—shape investors' decisions in the dynamic and high-stakes realm of financial markets. At its core, this study is propelled by an earnest endeavor to unearth the underlying psychological mechanisms that intricately link these intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to variations in risk tolerance and time discount – critical elements of investment behavior that remain relatively underexplored in finance literature. One of the primary imperatives of this research involves a deep dive into the psychological underpinnings of how innate desires shape individuals' attitudes toward risk and temporal preferences. By meticulously examining the relationships between materialism and heightened risk tolerance, on one hand. On another hand, investigating the influence of philanthropy leading to lowered risk tolerance and altered time discount rates, this study aims to validate and substantiate these theoretically proposed connections through rigorous empirical evidence. The empirical validation holds paramount significance not only for confirming theoretical assumptions but also for substantively contributing to the empirical finance literature, enriching the understanding of human behavior in investment decision-making. Beyond the theoretical validation, this study stands to significantly bolster securities saving initiatives and the development of the securities market in Finland. Understanding how materialistic aspirations and philanthropic inclinations influence risk tolerance and time discount rates can pave the way for tailored investment products that resonate deeply with diverse investor motivations. This insight has the potential to facilitate the creation of innovative and targeted financial instruments, aligning with individual preferences while fostering increased participation in the securities market. Furthermore, by elucidating the psychological underpinnings of investment decisions, this research can aid in forming risk capital for Finnish businesses through the securities market, potentially mitigating risk perceptions and encouraging more informed and diversified investment choices. Ultimately, this study's findings could lay the groundwork for a more vibrant and responsive securities market landscape in Finland, aligning with the foundation's objectives of promoting and nurturing securities saving and risk capital formation within the Finnish business sphere. Central to the research methodology is a meticulously planned multi-stage approach encompassing a diverse range of data collection methods. This includes the execution of laboratory experiments involving master's students from the University of Oulu as participants, an extensive online study conducted through Amazon Mechanical Turk (Mturk), and the incorporation of sophisticated neuroscientific validation techniques. These measures are thoughtfully designed to ensure comprehensive data collection and rigorous validation of findings across diverse participant cohorts, thereby augmenting the robustness, reliability, and generalizability of the study's outcomes. Moreover, this research endeavors to make substantive contributions to academic knowledge by generating a series of research articles that effectively bridge interdisciplinary gaps across finance, psychology, and neuroscience. The ultimate objective is to enrich and expand the understanding of investment behavior and its intricate psychological underpinnings, thereby propelling forward the theoretical frameworks in these interconnected domains. The culmination of these research articles culminates in the meticulous crafting of a comprehensive dissertation, synthes

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2025