motive

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 motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives"

a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music

a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration

causing or able to cause motion; "a motive force"; "motive power"; "motor energy"

impelling to action; "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"- Arthur Pap; "motive pleas"; "motivating arguments"