In psychology, motivation isn’t just about getting up and doing something—it’s a deeper, more intricate process involving both internal and external factors. These factors often focus on a material goal, which gives meaning to our actions and directs our path toward our objectives. Motivation drives us to take action, but it’s not just about reaching a goal—it’s also about maintaining that drive, especially when the path is challenging or when we face setbacks. This deeper, sustained commitment to a goal is known as being "motivated". It’s not just about achieving something once; it's about keeping up the effort even when things become frustrating.

At first glance, motivation may seem simple—a person wants something, so they act to get it. But in reality, motivation is far more complicated. Often, we reduce motivation to a stimulus or antecedent—an external push that gets us moving. For instance, we might hear statements like, "The stated motive for the crime was personal animosity," but psychological analysis often explores deeper underlying needs. From a psychological standpoint, this simplification overlooks the complexities of human behavior and the true nature of motives.

What Exactly Is a Motive?

A motive is not just a trigger or a superficial explanation; it’s a complex process tied to an object, person, or goal. When you’re hungry and head to the store to buy a loaf of bread and some sausage, it’s not just hunger that drives you—it’s your need for food that shapes your goal. The loaf of bread and sausage are the tangible objects representing your goal. This process involves several steps:

• Need: At the core of any action is a need. Whether it’s hunger or the need for emotional satisfaction, the need pushes you to act.
• Goal: Once you recognize that something is missing, your mind begins searching for a solution. In this case, your goal is clear: to eat and satisfy your hunger.
• Action: To achieve your goal, you take steps to obtain the necessary resources—buying food and preparing it.

In this example, hunger is the need, the loaf and sausage are the goal, and the actions of going to the store, buying the items, and eating them are all steps driven by that initial need. The motive isn’t just the action—it’s the entire process that turns a basic need into an outcome.

Why "The Stated Motive for the Crime Was Personal Animosity" Isn’t Enough

Now, let’s look at a more complicated situation, like the example of a crime where the stated motive was personal animosity. At first glance, it may seem clear that the motive was simply hatred or anger. But psychology digs deeper. To truly understand the motive, we need to break it down:

• Need: What was the underlying need that drove the individual to commit the crime? Maybe it was a sense of powerlessness, jealousy, or a desire for revenge. The person may have felt deeply inadequate or threatened by the victim.
• Goal: What did the person aim to achieve? Did they want to silence a threat, eliminate competition, or take control of something they felt they had lost?
• Realization: The criminal’s action—committing the crime—was the result of their perceived need and goal. But it wasn’t just about the anger; it was about what they hoped to gain or protect by acting on that anger.

If we look at the action through this lens, we see that the "motive" isn’t just about animosity or hatred; it’s about the deeper needs that led to the decision to take such drastic measures. This deeper understanding of the motive helps us view the crime not just as an act of passion, but as something driven by complex psychological factors.

Why We Need to Understand Motives in Relationships

In relationships, motives play a similar role in guiding our actions, sometimes to harmful or self-sabotaging ends. Consider abusive behaviors where one partner exerts power and control over the other. While insecurity or feelings of inferiority might be present in the abuser, it's crucial to understand that these do not excuse or justify abusive behavior. Abuse is fundamentally about power and control. The abuser may engage in manipulative behaviors, thinking it’s a way to gain control or reaffirm their worth. This is where the issue of “love” becomes problematic.

For example, someone might believe that if they’re aggressive or controlling, it’s because they "love" their partner so much. This is often a distorted view, where emotional dependency and insecurity are mistaken for love. The real motive, though, isn’t love—it’s a need for validation, control, or to feel a sense of security in the relationship. But by labeling these actions as “love,” the person avoids confronting their deeper emotional needs, and the relationship spirals into unhealthy patterns.

Moving Beyond the Surface of Motives

Understanding motives in any situation, whether it’s in crime, work, or relationships, is key to addressing the root causes of behavior. People aren’t just acting on impulses; they are motivated by deeper, often subconscious needs and goals. By breaking down these motives, we can better understand why people act the way they do.

Take the example of a partner in a relationship who constantly expects their significant other to fulfill all their emotional needs. This might stem from childhood trauma or a deep fear of abandonment, not simply from the partner’s perceived inability to care. By recognizing these underlying needs, the relationship can shift from a toxic, unbalanced dynamic to a healthier one where both partners can meet each other’s needs more effectively.

How Understanding Motives Helps Us Grow

Once we start recognizing the motives behind our own and others’ actions, we can make more conscious choices about how to address them. For instance, someone struggling with feelings of insecurity might begin by addressing their self-esteem rather than demanding constant reassurance from their partner. A person who feels threatened by a colleague might examine their own fears of inadequacy rather than undermining the other person.

By understanding our motives, we can take proactive steps to self-correct and engage in healthier, more fulfilling behaviors. Recognizing that emotions like jealousy or anger often come from deeper, unmet needs allows us to change our response patterns and make decisions that are more aligned with our true goals.

Conclusion: Motives as a Key to Understanding Behavior

Whether it’s in a relationship or a personal challenge, understanding the true motivation behind an action helps us view the situation more clearly. Rather than labeling behaviors with simplistic explanations, we can dive deeper into the psychological processes that guide people’s actions. Doing so not only enhances self-awareness but also improves our ability to empathize with others, creating stronger connections and reducing the likelihood of harmful behaviors.