Motivation and Values

When I think about Harry Potter’s story, what stands out most isn’t just the spells or the battles, but how his values kept pushing him forward. Psychologists remind us that values are basically the beliefs and priorities that guide our choices (Robinson et al., 2018). For Harry, those values were loyalty to his friends, a strong sense of justice, and eventually, the willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good.

Before digging into Harry, it’s worth laying out a few ideas from motivation research: Achievement goals are the “why” behind what we do in school or life. Some people want to master a skill for its own sake (mastery goals), while others mainly want to show they’re the best, or at least avoid looking weak (performance goals) (Elliot & Murayama, 2008; Elliot et al., 2011). Instrumentality means seeing today’s effort as useful for tomorrow’s goal (Robinson et al., 2018). If what you’re doing feels pointless, motivation drops.

Harry’s Core Values

Harry didn’t start with power, privilege, or even family love. Growing up in the Dursley household, he learned to treasure loyalty and belonging. When Ron and Hermione came into his life, protecting them became a central part of his motivation. These values shaped his goals. He wasn’t obsessed with “winning” or being the best wizard. His main drive was to do what was right, to protect people, and to stand up to injustice.

That’s why Harry’s goals often look more like mastery goals than performance ones. Voldemort chases power to prove superiority. Harry, in contrast, practices magic to defend himself and others. His values and goals align, which is what makes his motivation so strong.

How His Values Changed Over Time

Harry’s values didn’t stay the same. They grew as he did.

• Early Years (Books 1–3): His focus was mainly on belonging and proving himself. He broke rules not for attention but because loyalty to his friends came first.

• Middle Years (Books 4–5): His values expanded to justice and responsibility. We see this when he saves more than one person in the lake task or when he decides to train other students. His goals weren’t just about himself anymore, and they were about empowering a community.

• Final Years (Books 6–7): Everything built up to self-sacrifice. Walking into the Forbidden Forest to face Voldemort wasn’t about winning points or glory. It was about valuing others’ survival above his own life. Papi and Khajavy (2021) explain how
  motivation can be shaped by a focus on promotion—working toward a bigger, positive outcome, and that’s exactly where Harry ends up.