motives

Motives are the reasons or aims that prompt a person to act in a particular way. They explain why someone performs an action, what goals they seek, and how expectations of rewards or outcomes influence behavior. Motives lie at the intersection of desire, belief, and value, and they may be conscious or unconscious.

Motives are often categorized as intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic motives arise from the activity itself, such as curiosity, enjoyment, or personal growth. Extrinsic motives stem from external rewards or pressures, such as money, status, or approval. People can have multiple, sometimes conflicting, motives for a single action. In everyday discourse, motive is distinguished from intent (the plan to act) and from causation (what physically brings about the action).

In different fields, motives play varying roles. In psychology, motivation refers to processes that energize and guide behavior and can be studied through needs, reinforcement, and goal setting. In philosophy and ethics, motives are relevant to moral evaluation, credibility, and free will. In criminology and law, motive is the perceived reason for a crime and may affect investigation and sentencing, but a crime can be proven without establishing motive, while motive alone does not prove guilt.

Measurement and study of motives are typically inferential, based on statements, behavior, and context, using self-reports, interviews, or behavioral data; neuroscientific research may examine reward-related brain circuits. Limitations include the private nature of motives, social desirability, and the possibility of multiple, shifting motives over time.

Understanding motives aids education, therapy, management, and conflict resolution by aligning incentives, addressing underlying needs, and improving communication.