Perceived competence is necessary to translate motivation into rescue action

Evidence

Even in ordinary times a feeling of competence is usually required for the expression of motivation in action, or even for its arousal (Ajzen, 1988; Bandura, 1989; Staub, 1978, 1980). When action endangers one’s life, such “supporting characteristics” (Staub, 1980) become crucial. Faith in their own competence and intuition, fearlessness, and high tolerance for risk are among the characteristics of rescuers derived from interviews both with rescuers and with the people they helped (London, 1970; Oliner & Oliner, 1988; Tec, 1986). — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide, 180

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Belief in one’s capability to cause effects is foundational to human motivation; Perceived group inequity motivates distress that drives restorative action — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 431; Emotions function as motivational drives that organize behavior toward valued outcomes. — Michael T. Schmitt, Daniel A. Miller, Nyla R. Branscombe, and Jack W. Brehm, The Difficulty of Making Reparations…, 22 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Belief in one’s capability to cause effects is foundational to human motivation #corroborates (0.85)
• Motivational issues in trust are relational; competence is fixed #complicates (0.80) — Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, 88
• Emotions function as motivational drives that organize behavior toward valued outcomes. #expands (0.75) — Michael T. Schmitt, Daniel A. Miller, Nyla R. Branscombe, and Jack W. Brehm, The Difficulty of Making Reparations…, 22
• Mutual helping, not selfish flight, is the dominant emergency behaviour #complicates (0.75) — John Drury, The role of social identity processes…, 31
• Perceived group inequity motivates distress that drives restorative action #qualifies (0.70) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 431