behavior

Behavior traits are described in terms of actions which are observable by a third person. Thus, for instance, the behavior trait „being courageous“ would be defined as behavior which is directed toward reaching a certain goal without being deterred by risks to one’s comfort, freedom, or life. (…) However, if we inquire into the motivation and particularly into the unconscious motivation of such behavior traits we find that the behavior trait covers numerous and entirely different character traits. Courageous behavior may be motivated by ambition so that a person will risk his life in certain situations in order to satisfy his craving for being admired; it may be motivated by suicidal impulses which drive a person to seek danger because, consciously or unconsciously, he does not value his life and wants to destroy himself; it may be motivated by sheer lack of imagination so that a person acts courageously because he is not aware of the danger awaiting him; finally, it may be determined by genuine devotion to the idea or aim for which a person acts, a motivation which is conventionally assumed to be the basis of courage. Superficially the behavior in all these instances is the same in spite of the different motivations. I say „superficially“ because if one can observe such behavior minutely one finds that the difference in motivation results also in subtle differences in behavior. ― (1947a: Man for Himself. An Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics, New York (Rinehart and Co.) 1947, pp. 54f.)