Day 208

It is always easy to look at couples who fight over nothing and criticise them. But then, when you find yourself in a relationship, and find yourself fighting over something objectively insignificant, and you find it compelling nonetheless, the equation changes!

In class today (ESL teacher training) there was a section on behaviour management. It listed "Attention," "Power," "Revenge," and "Insecurity" as the primary motivations for child misbehaviour. And I thought... how fitting, this list explains a great deal of all human misbehaviour. Hell, most of the bad things I've done since adolescence could quite completely be chalked up to one of the above four traits/desires.

Mind you, I don't think I've ever sought revenge upon anyone. There have been a few times (one recently) upon which I took advantage of a spontaneous opportunity, but that's about it. Truth be told, it is hard to resist the desire to hurt someone back when they have hurt you. A part of your consciousness (mine anyway) always wants them to taste their own medicine, to experience that horrible sinking feeling, if only for a moment.

What motivates you to do bad things?

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