Intention vs. Motive

Main Difference

The main difference between Intention and Motive is that Intention is performing a forbidden act with purposeful action and conscious decision, whereas Motive is the cause that induces or forbids a person from doing a particular act.

Intention vs. Motive — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Intention and Motive

Intention vs. Motive

The intention is our pre-planned conscious act, whereas motive is an impulsive act.

Intention vs. Motive

The intention is always evil-based. Conversely, the motive may be based on positivity or negativity.

Intention vs. Motive

The intention has a negative connotation. On the contrary, the motive has positive as well as a negative connotation.

Intention vs. Motive

Intention mentions to the decided accomplishment or willful verdict to perform an act banned by law. In contrast, motive refers to the ulterior reason that compels a person to do a particular act.

Intention vs. Motive

The intention is described as an objection, whereas motive is described as a driving force that repels the individual for resentment and crime.

Intention vs. Motive

The purpose of intention is expressed. In contrast, the purpose of motive is not expressed; rather, it is implied.

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Intention vs. Motive

The intention is a substantial and critical factor in determining criminal liability. On the flip side, the motive is not substantial in determining criminal or civic accountability.

Intention vs. Motive

Some actions do not need intention for their occurrence. On the other hand, every action has some kind of motive behind it.

Intention vs. Motive

The intention is deeply rooted in the field of law. Conversely, the motive is deeply rooted in the field of psychology.

Intention vs. Motive

The court is concerned with the intention of a crime, but the court is not concerned about the motive of the crime.

Intention vs. Motive

The intention is related solely to the suspect. Conversely, the motive is focused on all persons of interest, including the suspect.

Intention vs. Motive

Intention needs means and opportunities with it to prove the crime. On the contrary, motive can stand for itself.

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Intentionnoun

The goal or purpose behind a specific action or set of actions.

The intention of this legislation is to boost the economy.My intention was to marry a wealthy widow.It’s easy to promise anything when you have no intention of fulfilling any of it.

Motivenoun

(obsolete) An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting.

Intentionnoun

(obsolete) Tension; straining, stretching.

Motivenoun

An incentive to act in a particular way; a reason or emotion that makes one want to do something; anything that prompts a choice of action.

Intentionnoun

A stretching or bending of the mind toward an object; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness.

Motivenoun

A limb or other bodily organ that can move.

Intentionnoun

(obsolete) The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim.

Motivenoun

(legal) Something which causes someone to want to commit a crime; a reason for criminal behaviour.

What would his motive be for burning down the cottage?No-one could understand why she had hidden the shovel; her motives were obscure at best.

Intentionnoun

(obsolete) Any mental apprehension of an object.

Motivenoun

A motif.

Intentionnoun

(medicine) The process of the healing of a wound.

Motivenoun

(music) A motif; a theme or subject, especially one that is central to the work or often repeated.

If you listen carefully, you can hear the flutes mimicking the cello motive.

Intentionverb

Intend

Motiveverb

(transitive) To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

Intentionnoun

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions;

his intent was to provide a new translationgood intentions are not enoughit was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needshe made no secret of his designs

Motiveadjective

Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move

a motive argumentmotive power

Intentionnoun

(usually plural) the goal with respect to a marriage proposal;

his intentions are entirely honorable

Motiveadjective

Relating to motion and/or to its cause

Intentionnoun

an act of intending; a volition that you intend to carry out;

my intention changed once I saw her

Motivenoun

the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior;

we did not understand his motivationhe acted with the best of motives

Motivenoun

a theme that is elaborated on in a piece of music

Motiveadjective

causing or able to cause motion;

a motive forcemotive powermotor energy

Motiveadjective

impelling to action;

it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative functionmotive pleasmotivating arguments

Comparison Chart

Intention Motive
The things that you plan to do or achieve are called intentions. The cause of performing something unlawful is called motive.
Meaning
Purposeful action and conscious decision to perform an unlawful act are regarded as an intention. Ulterior causes that force a person to do or refrain from the particular act is regarded as a motive.
Key Element
In the determination of criminal liability In committing an unlawful crime
Connotation
Always negative Negative as well as positive
Part in Action
May or may not Always present
Described As
Objective Driving force
Purpose
Expressed Implied
Criminal Liability
Substantial in the determination of criminal liability Insubstantial in the determination of criminal liability
Morally
Always bad Good or bad
Act
Conscious Impulsive
Court Concern
Related Not related

Intention vs. Motive

The intention is defined as willful doing of an act that is forbidden in law. On the other hand, motive alludes to the reason behind doing or not doing a particular act. The intention is referred to as an objective for making a crime or wrongful act. Conversely, the motive is defined as a driving force for the happened incident.

The purpose of intention is expressive. On the flip side, the purpose of motive is impulsive. The intention is substantial for the determination of criminal liability. Conversely, the motive is insubstantial for accusing someone liable for the criminal act.

Intention refers to the supposed action or the purpose of crime. On the contrary, motive refers to the reason for committing a crime. The intention has a higher level of blameworthiness due to higher crime commits. On the other hand, motive can be determined and planned, but its existence is not proved guilty.

The intention is the thing that a person plans to do or achieve, whereas motive is a reason for doing that act. The intention may not be involved in all criminal cases, but the motive is always present behind every action.

The intention is the fundamental factor in determining criminal accountability. Conversely, the motive is considered irrelevant in criminal accountability dealings. Doing an act willingly, which is prohibited by law, is regarded as intention. In contrast, the motive is not needed to be proved for the commission of charged crimes.

What is Intention?

In criminal law, doing an unlawful act or crime by conscious mind control and the willful decision is regarded as intention. The intention is always evil-based. The crimes forbidden by law performed by exact planning are included in terms of intention.

The practice of a certain source that leads to the application of crime reveals the intention of the suspect. In simple words, intention points towards the will and plan of a person. The intention is considered as a substantial and essential element in the determination of criminal liability because it refers to the willingness or aim of an individual.

When a person intentionally commits a crime, he is liable for punishment and is not considered guilty for any reason behind it. An intentional wrong act describes that a person is well aware of the consequences. Therefore, the intention to possess negative connotations. The law has the power to assume the intentions of the suspect.

The intention is a detachable intent, which is a critical factor in determining the question of illegal as well as public accountability. Therefore, the court is concerned with the intention of the suspect. The purpose of an action is called intention.

Examples

  • A man murders his wife, and his intention behind doing this crime is 50,000 bucks, which will be transferred to him after the death of his wife.
  • A man is captured by police with 2-kilo heroin in his bag. He intended to sell them, so he was carrying them to the customers.

What is the Motive?

A motive is labeled as a core objective or purpose behind the commission of prohibited action. The reason for doing something is called motive, which leads to intention, and then the unlawful act is performed.

All the crimes start from motive and end with intentions behind them. The inducement that compels a person for doing or not doing the particular sinful act is called motive.

The objective that claims insubstantiality in assessing criminal accountability is described as intention. The law has the power to determine the ulterior reason behind the crime. Law can assume the motive of the suspect by observing factors leading to the commission of a crime.

The investigators may be able to determine a person’s motive, but they cannot prove them accordingly and link them to crime. Therefore, the court has no concern for a person’s motive. It only deals with unlawful doings made either purposefully or unknowingly.

Examples

  • A wife suspects her husband and finally catches him red-handed, engaged in infidelity. Suffering from the feelings of jealousy and betrayal, she stabs him on his chest with the intention of his death. The motive behind this act was a sense of betrayal, which is negative.
  • A poor mother stealing bread for her hungry children from the house where she works, and a man robbing the bank to pay the surgery bills of his son is are examples of the positive type of motive.
Conclusion

The intention is the background of the committed crime, whereas motive is the purpose behind the intent. Pre-planned crime is the intention, but an impetuous act compelled by emotions is motive.