Motivations of the adherent

Abstract

Chapter 3 explores the three principal motivations that have been proposed to explain altruistic behavior—rational self-interest, moral obligations, and social norms—and asks to what extent they are plausible explanations of the motivations of adherents and how they are distinct from the motivations of the constituents. It shows how the adherents’ disjoint (i.e., asymmetric) motivations differ from the conjoint (i.e., reciprocal) motivations of constituents. It proposes that adherents are motivated by self-owned moral obligations to others and disjoint norms of service. It also explores the associated costs of these motivations for the social movement, showing how these too differ.