Motive

Motive the word by definition is (Google) “A reason for doing something. Esp. one that is hidden or not obvious.” 

I was prompted this morning to write a piece on the President's visit to Newton.  As I watched with great sadness the events of that horrific day in Newtown, CT I was moved when I heard the President of the United States was going to make a personal visit.  Then I realized he just a man, with compassion and empathy and why shouldn't he make a visit.  Then I realized there may be some folks that will use this tradgedy as an opportunity to see the President thereby foregoing the reason for his visit.  Much like “Black Friday” has clearly superseded the “reason for the season”.

Then it occurred to me what was my motive for writing a piece on this topic.  Was I concerned about the children, was I concerned about the President, or was I concerned about those that would turn this moment of care and concern into some type of opportunist political showdown.

In examining my own motives I thought -  what is a motive, what if my motive for writing this piece is driven by less than desirable attributes should the topic remain as “Motive” or should I re-name  it as “Who’s Coming To Town” much like the lyrics in the song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” written by Gillespie and Coots, “…He sees when you’re sleeping; He knows when you’re awake, He knows if you been bad or good; So be good for goodness sake…”  Sounds a lot like how God operates, but we are surely not equating the President’s visit with that of a visit from God.

So then how is motive defined? Rest et al. state that the moral sensitivity process, for example, entails steps such as “interpreting the situation, role-taking how various actions would affect the parties concerned, imagining cause-effect chains of events, and being aware that there is a moral problem when it exists” (1999: 101) Rest et al.’s four component model suggests that moral judgments must also be preceded by moral awareness and followed by the formation of intentions to act and then, ultimately, action itself.

In my own examination of the President’s visit my interpretation of the situation is one of an example of humanity at its best.  One that give a visual of what negative ego looks like in the face of human tragedy.  I think the families that have endured great suffering can take some amount of comfort in know that the President of United States of America is human enough to have feelings and then act on those feeling by showing support.

I do not purport to be an expert on motive or motivational processes but I have a general idea of right and wrong.  In my interpretation of the situation I think it would be disastrously wrong to attempt to capitalize on a moment of suffering to perpetuate ones political prowess.

References

Hannah, S. T., Avolio, B. J., & May, D. R. (2011). MORAL MATURATION AND MORAL CONATION: A CAPACITY APPROACH TO EXPLAINING MORAL THOUGHT AND ACTION. Academy Of Management Review, 36(4), 663-685. doi:10.5465/AMR.2011.65554674