What Is Character Motivation, And Why Does It Matter?

Motivation is generally what drives people to build, work, eat, sleep, and take other forms of action. As in real life, the characters in fictional stories tend to be driven by a set of motivations. Common character motivations in fiction (and in real life) can include revenge, greed, survival, love, and curiosity. Characters and real people can experience both conscious and unconscious motivations that lead them to act. A therapist may help you identify and understand your motivations and address any underlying concerns.

Character motivation in fiction

A good story tends to carry its audience through the drama of its characters experiencing the challenges of growth and transformation. What drives the plot forward is usually each character’s motivation or the reason why they are doing what they are doing. Motivation is frequently what pushes characters out of their comfortable backstories and into the drama of an adventure, quest, or new relationship. 

Writers usually begin crafting a story with a basic understanding of each character and their motivations. As the story develops, the writer may guide their characters through growth and transformation by challenging their characters’ abilities to carry out their motivations.

Classic character motivation

Here is a list of classic character motivations.

Revenge as a character's motivation

Revenge may be a time-tested motivation that speaks to a lot of people. Everyone has likely been wronged by someone else, and we may sometimes fantasize about giving that person what we believe they deserve. In fiction, this is usually an extreme situation. The antagonist may kill the protagonist's family, and the protagonist may seek out the antagonist to kill them and get revenge. In real life, it's usually less extreme. Someone may have told you that you couldn't get a particular job, and you may want to get that job out of spite and to prove them wrong.

Greed

Money can be a motivating factor for many, both in fiction and in real life. In fiction, a person might rise through the corporate ladder through shady tactics or do something illegal, like join the mob to gain power. In real life, you may want more money so you can live a better life, and you may end up throwing a few coworkers under the bus to do it. 

Survival

Survival is an instinct typically found in all sentient beings, so it can be an excellent motivator in fiction. In fiction, a plane may crash, and the protagonist may be the only survivor who must figure out how to make it on their own in the wilderness. In real life, we may eat, sleep, go to the doctor, and do anything else we can to live the longest, healthiest lives possible.

Love motivates characters

Love can be another strong motivator. We generally desire companionship, and this emotion is nearly always a big motivator in fiction. For example, the protagonist may slay a dragon to save their love or get involved in a heated love triangle. In real life, love may not involve dragons, but it can still be a very complex motivator. Humans typically want love for different reasons. Some may long for companionship, while others may pursue love to find a sense of self-worth or achieve financial prowess. 

Curiosity

We tend to be curious creatures who want to learn more about ourselves and the world around us. In fiction, a character may explore ruins because they are curious about the past. In real life, someone may enter a scientific field because they want to learn more about their area of study or make new discoveries.

Duty

In fiction, heroes may be motivated by a sense of duty to do what is right. The protagonist may be called on a great quest, and they may choose to undergo the quest because they want to change the world. In real life, there can be many examples of this. Someone may join the army because they believe they are serving their country. Others may get into politics because they want to change the system or become a teacher because they want to impact young lives.

Self-satisfaction

Some people can be motivated out of a desire for happiness and personal satisfaction. In fiction, someone may go adventuring because it feels good. In nonfiction, someone may do the same thing to attain happiness. One of the main goals in life can be to have as much happiness and entertainment as possible. 

Self-discovery

Discovering who you are can be a huge motivator for action. For example, in fiction, a character may take a grand pilgrimage so he can learn more about his inner self. In real life, this may apply to many people. Someone may go to therapy because they want to know more about their inner psyche or their unconscious motivations.

Unconscious vs. conscious motivations

Conscious motivations tend to be much different than unconscious ones. Sometimes, there are driving forces behind our actions, and we may not realize them unless we unlock our unconscious memories through therapy. 

A conscious character motivation could be something in the plot that drives a character forward. In a fantasy novel, a character's village may be destroyed by monsters, so that may be a motivation for them to learn how to grow stronger. There may also be unconscious motivations lying deep in their mind.

For example, the character may have other reasons why they are trying to be stronger. Perhaps they were once bullied as a child, and while it may not be a conscious motivation, their course of action may change when they encounter a situation that calls up their buried feelings from being bullied.

A writer might include flashbacks of the character being bullied but not draw a direct connection for the reader. Just like realizing your own unconscious memories, you may need to connect the dots yourself.

Character motivation in nonfiction

As in compelling fiction, every person in real life usually has a complex list of motivations. Sometimes, those motivations may be obvious. For example, you may have grown up in a low-income family, so you may be motivated to go to college to get a better job. Another reason why you may be motivated to get a better job could be that a long time ago, someone berated you for your job of choice, and while you may not remember the event, it may be an unconscious motivator at play in your life.

In real life, everyone can be considered a character who has their own motivations. Life can be seen as your own story, and there may be protagonists and antagonists in the story, each with their own complex motivations. For example, your boss may seem like an antagonist to you, but they may have motivations that make sense in context. They may have grown up in a household with parents who had high expectations and are now repeating their parents’ behaviors.

A fun exercise

You might write down the names of some people in your life – friends, family, neighbors, and perhaps people you consider to be your antagonists. Write down your own name as well. Think about everyone in your life as a character in a story. Jot down some potential motivations for each person. Odds are, you may know everyone's conscious motivations, but you generally can't get into the minds of most people, so you may not know their backstory or unconscious motivations.

Try to reflect and search for some unconscious motivations you may have. Think about your childhood and try to figure out if there are any motivations for your current actions rooted in the past. Perhaps there are. For some, it may be hard to recall their childhood entirely. There may be some events you cannot remember due to trauma, and there may be times when you cannot remember because it happened such a long time ago.

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Doing a character study on yourself can offer insight. You're likely more complex than you imagine, with dozens of traits, flaws, strengths, and motivations. By writing these down, you may better understand yourself.

Seeking professional help

If you want to know more about your motivations, it may be difficult to do it on your own. Figuring out your motivations can be a way for you to set better goals and find the drive needed to accomplish those goals. Talking to a therapist may be the ultimate key to achieving your goals. They can help you process your character study exercise and figure out your motivations, as well as the motivations of those around you. This can help you relate better to yourself and the people in your life.

Benefits of online therapy

Online therapy through BetterHelp may be a great place to delve into your personal character motivation. You can choose a time that is convenient for you, and you don’t have to worry about factoring in time to commute to your appointments. You can meet with your therapist anywhere you have an internet connection and switch therapists as needed until you find one who suits your needs and preferences.

Effectiveness of online therapy

While more research may be needed regarding the efficacy of online therapy for analyzing character motivations, a growing body of evidence suggests that online therapy is usually just as effective as its in-person counterpart. If you’re interested in seeking professional insight and guidance, both online and in-person options may be valid choices.