Values and Motivations

Motivations of Louise Belcher:

There are a few primary motivations that drive the actions and values of Louise Belcher. One of Louise Belcher’s goals that is primarily featured in the show is her motivation to make as much money and profits as possible. Louise’s motivations and values tie into her overall achievement goals. The term “achievement goals” can be defined as a goal that one is attempting to achieve, which are often separated into mastery and performance components (i.e. if a goal is about “mastering” a skill or being able to perform a specific task) (course lecture, 9/30). Louise’s primary goals over the course of the show include making money/saving the restaurant, proving her maturity relative to everyone around her, and tricking her school counselor. Mr. Frond. Her values can be seen as acquiring wealth, being viewed as mature, and outsmarting adults around her

It is shown repeatedly throughout the course of the show that the Belchers are a working-class family, and struggle to keep the restaurant running along for another month. The parents, Bob and Linda, are also not discrete or remotely private when discussing their money struggles with the business, and openly commiserate and worry about money around the kids. This open worry about money may contribute to one of Louise’s core values, which is to make as much money as humanly possible. Throughout the course of the show, the viewer can see Louise and the other Belcher children (though always spearheaded by Louise) run many ridiculous schemes to make schemes. Examples of such schemes include running an underground casino in the restaurant, trying to start a band (without knowing any instruments/voice), trying to sell ambergris found on the dock, trying to sell art as a curator, and even commit tax evasion on occasion. What may motivate this value to run all of these crazy and very risky schemes, is seeing her family struggle with money and wanting to “save the restaurant”. As Linda and Bob are very open about their money struggles and worrying about the restaurant going under, she may believe that if she makes enough money for them, she can “save the restaurant” and be a hero to her family. She also looks to her family for approval. This could be considered an intrinsic value, as she has the internal motivation to make money. It could also be considered an extrinsic motivation, because she would like to use money for external rewards (such as food, toys or helping the restaurant).

Another motivation that Louise has is to prove her maturity to her friends and family, she is always insistent on being seen as “not a baby”. This motivation could stem from the factor that she is the “baby” in her family (youngest sibling), and with her age group, peers in her age group developmentally are always eager to prove her maturity. She also may be motivated to prove her maturity as she is still attached to “childish” items such as some of her anime toys and her bunny ears that she wears constantly.

One of Louise’s most prominent motivations is to “beat” her school counselor, Philip Frond. Mr. Frond is known for instituting not well-received social or behavioral reform programs at the school, or therapy wellness programs that the kids are often not fond on. Said “wellness” programs often come off as very dated or corny to the kids. Mr. Frond is also strict on discipline, and there have been instances where Louise has received detentions or harsh punishments, or had rewards taken away from her by Mr. Frond. Overall, this motivation could stem from Louise’s competitive nature, and stubborn streak. If Louise is not able to get her way, she is insistent on finding a solution or ability to get her way. She is also highly intelligent and can easily manipulate many of the adults around her, such as Mr. Frond. Mr. Frond is easily able to be manipulated and swayed by many of the kids by pretending to enjoy his therapy programs, or to be interested in his personal life. I believe that this motivation stems from an internal value, because when Louise is able to outsmart Mr. Frond, she receives internal satisfaction from being able to do this. This could also function as an extrinsic motivation, when she is able to receive external rewards, such as being able to avoid detention. Over the course of the show, Louise’s goal stay fairly stagnant and focused on the same main motivations, they do not deeply expand.