Alien Species.vp - IUCN

Jamie K. Reaser
The class of Meta Programmes know as “Motivation Traits,” provides a useful framework
for understanding the filters that people apply when they decide to do something that results in
the movement of IAS, or something to stop such movements (Table 2; Charvet, 1997). Offering
information to someone using the language patterns that most motivate them will trigger their
interest and action. Conversely, offering information to someone in the absence of these words
or those of an alternate pattern will keep them from becoming interested and may “demotivate”
those already interested.
Meta Programme patterns are described without value judgement. No pattern is “better” or
“right.” However, they can be more or less useful, depending on the context and the desired
outcome.
Table 2 Meta Programme Motivation Traits (adapted from Charvet, 1997).
Questions to elicit pattern Categories Patterns
(no question at this level) Level Proactive – action, do it
Reactive – try, think, wait
What do you want that IAS for? Criteria (see Hierarchy of Criteria later in chapter)
Why is that (criterion) important? Direction Toward – attain, gain, get
Away From – avoid, exclude,
How do you know you have achieve what you
want from having that IAS?
Source Internal – knows within self
External – told by others, facts and figures
Why did you choose that IAS? Reason Options – criteria, choice, possibilities, variety
Procedures – story, how, necessity, didn’t
choose
We do not walk on our legs, but on our Will.
Sufi proverb
Consider these traits in the context of how we communicate what needs to be done about the
IAS problem, and how we approach efforts to minimise the spread of IAS. [The percentages
listed at the bottom of each pattern represent statistical distributions Roger Bailey found in the
context of the work environment (as reported by Charvet, 1997)]:
Level This Meta Programme defines action. Proactive people initiate actions, quickly getting
on with the task that needs to be accomplished. They are motivated by statements like “We
need to solve the IAS problem now.” Reactive people wait for others to take the lead, and/or
methodically wade through a decision process (which may take a long time and never result in
action). They are motivated by statements like “Think about what we would need to do to solve
the IAS problem.”
Proactive (15-20%); Equally Proactive and Reactive (60-65%): Reactive (15-20%)
Direction This pattern defines motivation and how people maintain (or lose) their focus.
Toward people are driven by goals that they want to achieve. These people need to recognise
their achievements and the steps along the way. They are motivated by statements like “When
we eradicate cats from this island, it will be considered an a significant achievement and a step
to accomplishing even greater regional goals.” Away from people know what they do not want.
They look for problems and take action to avoid them. They are motivated by statements like
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