1. Money – Financial incentives drive a wide range of human behavior, including crimes, corporate choices, hacking, scams, and fraud. Greed is a fundamental driver in every industry and society. People will go to tremendous measures, including unethical or criminal behavior, to obtain money.
  2. Revenge – Revenge is an emotionally charged, forceful, and frequently unreasonable motivator. It can motivate someone to take excessive behaviors without regard for the repercussions. Revenge has motivated entire battles as well as personal vendettas. When people feel upset, they may act in ways they would not otherwise, making this an effective motivation.
  3. Political – Politics shapes history. From revolts to rebellions political motivations have compelled leaders and ordinary citizens to adopt severe measures. Political beliefs lead people to rationalize their conduct in the name of a cause. Political influence is also linked to power and control, which makes it an effective motivator.
  4. Recognition – Many people seek recognition, whether through social media, accomplishments, or infamy. Some people commit crimes or do extreme behaviors in order to gain attention, such as mass shooters. The urge to be noticed and remembered is profoundly ingrained in psychology.
  5. Entertainment – Some people behave only to get a thrill. Hackers, pranksters, and criminals will sometimes do things only for fun or to get an adrenaline rush. While less common than money or revenge, entertainment continues to play a part in dangerous behaviors such as vandalism and daredevil adventures.
  6. Boredom – While boredom can lead to destructive behavior, it is often a less powerful motive than money, revenge, or politics. Boredom frequently results in non-risky pranks rather than catastrophic incidents.
  7. Multiple Reasons – While many actions contain many motivations, “multiple reasons” does not constitute a motive in itself. Instead, it is just an understanding that individuals frequently have complex desires.