We Vote For...

What motivates you? If we get a closer look at the motivators of people, we could sum up to three: money, power and fame. So often, society conditions us to believe that success is about accumulating as much wealth, power, and fame as possible.

So, when one gets interested on a certain thing (like politics), this might be the potent question: What drives him or her? Social scientists often anchor such discourse on Maslow’s theory: the hierarchy of needs. When a certain need is unsatisfied, the person dwells on it.

MONEY. Whatever people lust for, that’s what they seek. A lust for money is greed (foxbusiness.com, 2013). Deprivation of the basic needs like food, clothing and even shelter causes people to lust for money. This is the reason why others resort to illegal trade since they do not want to be hungry or “unsecured” any time. Some people invest on political positions because of wealth. They see government seats as opportunities to become wealthier. And the voters could be bought as well since there are those who lust for money. Any amount could make them fill-in a certain need…to eat or drink, probably.

POWER. It is a neutral tool-one that can be used for good or ill. Power represents your ability to get things done though other people-the more power you have, the more things you can do. Accordingly, there’s nothing morally wrong with consciously seeking to increase your Power, provided you do so while respecting the rights of other people (Kaufman, 2017). 

But what if the one who sought for leadership was deprived of functioning according to his will due to overly strict parents or a domineering wife and circle of friends? Is s/he making this as an opportunity to satisfy an unmet need?

The majority will also feel that the election is the time to allow them to experience power. During the campaign period, politicians will kiss their asses for the votes! People demand. They play their roles in making the politicians become ordinary ones just like them. They make them dance and sing. They take pride when the politicians eat with them or be with their “poor”. They are in power even fleetingly.

FAME. There is a difference between becoming famous because you happen to do something noteworthy that deserves recognition and becoming famous because you actively and desperately seek out fame. If you grew up feeling ignored, neglected, or otherwise unacknowledged, the appeal of fame can be intoxicating. We all need a healthy dose of attention to help mold us into healthy adults, but some don't get that. As a result, they could seek attention from the public that they never received growing up as a form of self-validation.

The definition of success varies depending on who you talk to. Some people equate success with fame, when that isn't necessarily correct. A healthier way to define success is to feel happy and accomplished in what you do and who you are. As people equate success with fame, they also tend to attach their assessment of their own self-worth to public image (Markarian, 2016).

What if the leaders only feed on the thought of being “recognized” than to serve?

As adults, we need to understand how to evaluate our actions based on our needs. This is important since it is also a need for us to become actualized: to reach that level when we now understand and “in control” with our actions based on our motives. We must see the extrinsic and intrinsic motivators so to become better versions of ourselves.

Extrinsic motivation occurs when we are motivated to perform a behavior or engage in an activity to earn a reward or avoid punishment. In this case, you engage in a behavior not because you enjoy it or because you find it satisfying, but in order to get something in return or avoid something unpleasant. While intrinsic motivation involves engaging in a behavior because it is personally rewarding; essentially, performing an activity for its own sake rather than the desire for some external reward. Essentially, the behavior itself is its own reward (Cherry, 2018).

With the election of local and national leaders, we could use this as a gauge in dealing with those who are asking for our votes. We need to see whether they are motivated extrinsically or in an intrinsic manner. By doing so, we could be assured that we are not electing people who are still nursing on their unmet desires and needs.

Corruption, oppression and “epal” are by-products of unmet needs.

(Side note: This is the main reason why education, guiding the children and religious anchorage are good advocacies since we nurture the spirit of the young. Adults sometimes are “made”. They only choose what to learn. Mental health could be addressed as well when we start with nurturing the young. Gaps and deficits are confronted when the people are still able to cope. We have lots of adults who have cringing children inside of them. )