Page 22 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 23

Comment

Michael and Valerie Murphy have wri�en an inspira�ve ar�cle about mo�-
va�on. Their hope is that the ar�cle will open readers’ eyes to see the Bible
and especially the first chapters of Genesis through “the roots of mo�va�-
ons”-lenses. It certainly convinced me.

At the beginning of the ar�cle, many basic psychological theories of mo�va-
�on are examined. Here they found intrinsically and extrinsically based mo-
�ves, as well as aspects based on hope and fear. Maslow’s needs-based
theory of mo�va�on was introduced. This theory has its founda�on in hu-
manis�c psychology. Psychoanalysis also grows out of the ground where
God has been ignored or excluded.

The Murphys’ ar�cle has a “Creator-designed” categorical basis. Has God Päivimaria Kuivamäki
created us to be mo�vated by rewards or inner desires? What does God
(Finland)
want human beings to achieve instead of self-fulfilment as presented by
Maslow? Developmental
Psychologist,
The Murphys direct us from a hedonis�c – so typical to this age – to a eudai- Child Psychotherapist,
monic view of happiness. psychodrama studies,
Happiness is o�en connected to obtaining pleasure. The concept of eudai- solu�on-oriented
monia emphasises rather the aim of achieving a posi�ve affect and diminis- therapy studies,
hing the nega�ve one. Eudaimonia is pursuing happiness by finding mea- qualifica�ons of a
voca�onal teacher,
ning and purpose.
work experience both
in child protec�on
Working with children and young people in long-term psychotherapy, I hear and foster care in the
the needs of children crying out. Does anybody love me, who will see me,
municipal sector and
is anybody looking at me – the need to know that I am valuable, unique, as a self-employed
seen and loved. They are mo�vated to do a lot in order to gain a�en�on and person since 2008
love - they need a rela�onship which nourishes them. Children who gro- Tampere / Finland.
wing up without nourishing rela�onships have no empathy. They are mo�-
vated to seek desperately more happiness for themselves; happiness which
meets their needs for love and affirma�on. Former ar�cles by
Päivimaria Kuivamäki
Some young people are ready to do harmful things to get any kind of rela�-
onship or sense of belonging. Some of them turn their mo�va�on towards h�ps://
reaching “nega�ve” goals – to harm or destroy, hurt the ones who have hurt emcapp.ignis.de/17/
them. Some youngsters are distorted in their mo�va�ons - they feel only a #p=32
need for violent games, but are not be in touch with any altruis�c mo�ves.
Have sins commi�ed against them twisted their mo�va�on system? h�ps://
emcapp.ignis.de/6/
Does a safe childhood with secure a�achment to parents lead to develop- #p=195
ment of eudaimonia?

22
22