Social desirability is a major problem with self-report assessments being considered as an addition in the big five personality inventory correlated with self efficacy a major motivational component of the psychodynamic approach

Social desirability is the propensity of respondents, some of them, to report an answer in a way they regard to be more socially satisfactory than would be their "actual" answer. They do this to extend an ideal picture of themselves and to abstain from accepting negative assessments.

it depends on which society you are referring to. many civilization performed rituals so the gods would with their growing season but the most well known is that of the aztecs. they would make sacrifices, usually animals, but sometimes humans as well.