Difference between Intention and Motive

The well-known natural justice concept, "Actus non facit reum nisi men sit rea," states that a man is not guilty of an act unless it is coupled with a criminal purpose. For this reason, a crime is the result of an act plus a guilty purpose. A simple act does not qualify as a crime until a specific guilty intent is attached to it (with the exception of strict liability offenses, where the act is penalized without requiring mens rea).

Mens rea, which translates to "guilty mind," is the mental component required for a certain crime. Our legal system determines a person's responsibility based on a variety of factors, including mental health issues. The same is required since it is a factor that, in the event that the specific crime was committed with mental involvement and knowledge of the potential repercussions, instills a sense of fear in the minds of others inside the society. This mental component is relevant or significant because crime is viewed as a wrong against society as a whole, which makes it unsettling for individuals to commit crimes and undermines their sense of social security.

Nevertheless, it is also believed that the public conscience is only disturbed when the accused person's mind is involved in the crime; in other cases, people tend to understand forgiveness. It follows that mens rea is now considered a necessary component of a crime. Mens rea does not refer to any particular mental state that might be present in every crime. It is different in many environments and under various conditions. Moreover, intention and motive are mental components.

Meaning of Intention

The desire to bring about a specific outcome is known as intention. When someone behaves in a way that makes them certain that the intended outcome will materialize, it might be considered that they are acting with the intention of acting. The way the accused behaved has provided him with more certainty regarding the outcome he had in mind. When an accused person acts with complete certainty and further assurance that the planned outcome will undoubtedly follow from the conduct, this is considered the highest degree of mens rea purpose. On the other hand, whether or not the accused person intended to cause the specific outcome is an objective test that will be established based on the accused's actions within the relevant circumstances. Thus, it fluctuates depending on the circumstances.

To determine if the accused meant the act or not, the court will employ the reasonable man test. In other words, the court will consider how a reasonable man would have responded in the same situation and with the same intent as the accused. Then, it will determine what outcome he intends to achieve. Whatever the reasonable man's intention may be observed to be, the accused will be held accountable for the same intention. To find out the accused's intentions, a reasonable individual is forced to put himself in the accused's position. It is important to remember that the concept of the "reasonable man" is legal in nature and not a physical embodiment of a human being.

Advantages of Intention

• Clarity: People who have intention are able to prioritize their actions and arrive at judgments based on the clarity and concentration they bring to the intended objective.
• Goal Attainment: Setting and working towards objectives with intention gives people a sense of satisfaction and success.
• Accountability: When people have intentions and follow through on them to attain their goals, it instills a sense of accountability and responsibility in them.
• Better Planning: People who have intentions are more likely to consider their choices and foresee any difficulties or roadblocks carefully.
• Enhanced Confidence: Having an intention might help someone feel more confident in their abilities to accomplish their goals and adopt a more upbeat outlook.

Disadvantages of intention

• Tunnel vision: It occurs when someone concentrates so much on their intended result that they miss other crucial details or viewpoints.
• Rigid Thinking: People who have rigid thinking may not be as receptive to novel concepts or methods that depart from their predetermined course of action.
• Disappointment: When intentions fail to produce the anticipated results, dissatisfaction or self-doubt may follow.
• Overconfidence: While people may think that their intended outcome is certain, overconfidence can occasionally result from intention. This can set people up for unreasonable expectations and possibly unfavourable outcomes.
• Limited Creativity: People's intention can restrict their creativity since they will concentrate only on reaching their desired goal rather than considering alternative options or strategies.

Meaning of Motive

Mens rea does not apply to motive. It is the motivation or cause for carrying out a specific action. A motive could be evil (reus) or benign (pious). Consequently, the motivation isn't always evil or criminal. Simply put, a person's purpose is what drives them to or away from performing a specific behavior. Asking yourself or finding an answer to the question, "Why did the accused conduct the particular act?" will suffice to determine it. Even if the motivation is sincere or religious, the outcome could be against the law, which would hold the individual accountable or subject to punishment.

Advantages of Motive

• Gives purpose and direction: Possessing a motive can give someone a feeling of purpose and direction. It can assist them in setting priorities and maintaining focus on what matters.
• Behaviour comprehension: Motivations play a role in understanding a person's behavior. By comprehending their motivations, we can learn about someone's viewpoint, objectives, and values, which can facilitate better communication and the development of stronger bonds between us.
• Inspiration: Inspiration can give one the drive to take action. An individual is more likely to take action towards reaching their objectives if they have a compelling reason.
• Self-awareness: Gaining a better understanding of one's motivations can help one become more self-aware, which can promote personal development.
• Finding one's strengths and shortcomings: Motivations can assist people in recognizing their strengths and limitations. Through comprehending their motivations, individuals can pinpoint their areas of weakness and strive towards personal growth.

Disadvantages of Motive

• Bias: A person's motivations can influence their perspective of others and circumstances, resulting in bias. Conflict and strained relationships may result from this.
• Selfishness: People might sometimes have self-centered motivations, putting their wants ahead of those of others. This can cause arguments and strained relationships.
• Unconscious motives: People may act irrationally or destructively due to unconscious motives that they are ignorant of.
• Overgeneralization: Sometimes, motivations cause someone to assume that certain conduct is appropriate in all circumstances, which can result in erroneous assumptions and misinterpretations.
• Lack of adaptability: Rigid and unyielding motivations might result in tunnel vision and lost chances.

Difference between Motive and Intention

The main distinctions between motive and intention are as follows:

• In terms of criminal law, motive refers to the implicit reason that leads someone to perform an act or refrain from performing one, whereas intention is defined as a purposeful cause and a conscious attempt to bring about a certain outcome that is illegal.
• The motivation that prompted or inspired the accused to commit the crime is known as the motive, whereas the purpose is the crime's intended outcome.
  The motivation is the latent or inferred aim of the crime, whereas the intention is the explicit reason for committing it.
• Proof of an accused person's intention is necessary in all circumstances where its presence is required, as it is a crucial factor in determining their criminal liability. However, the purpose is not a necessary condition for the same; hence, it need not be proven in order to prove or disprove the accused's guilt.
• The accused's intention plays a crucial role in establishing whether the alleged act was carried out intentionally or accidentally. Conversely, motive only provides an explanation for the accused's actions.
• The term "intention" simply describes the immediate reason behind an action. The act's hidden agenda is known as the motive. While Motive has feelings like fear, anger, and love, Intention is emotionless

Law Context

A person steals a few biscuits to feed his hunger. While the motivation in this case is positive-namely, sating his hunger-his immediate act of stealing is nevertheless illegal due to his malice. It's possible that certain acts are not intentional. Every action has a motivation, whether it be good or harmful. The intention of the accused is a key factor in determining their criminal guilt since it distinguishes intentional actions from unintentional ones. The question of motive, on the other hand, answers why the accused person committed a crime. In cases when purpose is in doubt, it is essential to show intention in order to prove guilt. However, determining the criminal's guilt does not always require the presence of a motive or the necessity for proof of it. The specific objective or aim that goes along with committing a crime is known as intention, whereas the motive may be hidden or made clear through implicature. When it comes to criminal proceedings, motive is the rationale or driving force behind an act of violence, whereas intent is the reason or goal for which an individual conducts an unlawful act.

The State of U.P. v. Lakhan (1997) 9 SCC 679 case serves as an illustration of how the court clarified that motive is a subjective concept that must be discovered through indirect evidence in a case. Even only this circumstantial evidence allows one to determine the act's aim.

The word "intention" refers to the purpose or target of an action, signifying a person's conscious desire or resolve to achieve a specific outcome. For example, a person purchasing a knife might intend to use it for self-defense, cooking, or even harming someone, depending on their attitude and circumstances. However, motive describes the underlying reason or driving force behind an action and sheds light on a person's interests, concerns, and motivations. For instance, a person may steal because they are driven by greed, financial desperation, or a desire for material goods; these motivations serve as the basis for their conduct and provide context for what they do.

It appears that intentions are merely concepts kept in our minds, and we may not always locate them with a distinct purpose in mind. Observing what goes on around us can help us determine what they are. Motives might be external to us, such as monetary gain, social expectations, or mental health, or they can be personal, centered on goals or feelings. They are helpful in explaining why individuals behave in certain ways. In legal contexts, intent is a crucial factor in establishing accountability and allocating suitable degrees of criminal liability. Diverse legal frameworks acknowledge different levels of intent, including particular, general, and reckless. For example, in order to prove murder as opposed to manslaughter, it is necessary to show the defendant's purpose to cause harm or death.

Although motive may not have a direct bearing on guilt or innocence, it can have an impact on the court case by revealing information about the defendant's underlying motivations, probable behavioral patterns, and mental health. Evidence supporting the prosecution's case for the defendant's culpability may come from the defendant's motivation for committing the crime, such as envy or retaliation. Intention has a significant impact on behavior since it drives and guides people in their choices and behaviors. It stands for their purposeful choices and goals that drive them to achieve specific outcomes. However, purpose influences behavior more subtly by acting as a driving force or a means of reward. It may not specify the precise course to follow, but it can have a big impact on a person's priorities and decisions. A student may, for example, intend to study hard in order to achieve academic excellence, but their motivation may come from wanting to succeed in their career or gain their parents' favour.

In moral and ethical circumstances, the purpose is frequently prioritized since it demonstrates a person's moral accountability and responsibility for their acts. The evaluation of intention is contingent upon its conformity to moral standards and ideals. Ethical evaluations may also take motive into account, particularly when analyzing the moral implications of an action's underlying rationale. But motivations by themselves cannot support or legitimize unethical behaviour. Even though their activities seem the same on the surface, someone who donates to charity with the aim of helping others could be seen more favourably than someone who does so only for notoriety or personal advantage.

Difference between Intention and Motive

Conclusion

In summary, purpose and intention are two distinct aspects of human behavior that help us understand why people act the way they do. While motive explores the basic incentives and justifications that shape conduct, intention deals with the conscious goal that drives an action. These two ideas influence our views about human control, responsibility, and culpability and have important ramifications in the domains of law, psychology, ethics, & morality.