Primary/Secondary Control & Motivation

Primary control is the cognition and behavior by which we ourselves influence the environment to fit our needs and desires. By putting in efforts, we believe we can make things happen. On the other hand, secondary control is letting go of the omnipotence of our power to change the world, but turning to different factors outside of us, such as luck, experienced others, and a higher power, that can also affect the environment. We can also change our thoughts and goals to adapt to the environment. 

In Will Hunting's story, as we have discussed in the earlier post, he came from a disadvantaged growing-up environment where he lived in various foster homes and experienced physical abuse. This experience had profoundly influenced his cognition, identity, and intimate relationships. He was rebellious towards pursuing his career in a prestigious position, even though he had his moral considerations. He was afraid of getting hurt and doubted whether he was worthy of love, especially in front of his girlfriend Skylar, who came from a wealthy family and was attending Harvard. As a result, Will didn't exercise his primary control in either his career or relationship because he didn't believe his actions could change the environment. Although he was happy in their relationship, when Skylar asked him to move to California together because she was about to start at Stanford Medical School, Will immediately turned down the invitation and denied the quality of their relationship. He broke up with Skylar because he didn't believe their relationship would be successful. Instead, he used secondary control by letting his past experiences and their differences determine his decision, changed his goal of staying in a relationship, and persuaded himself to give it up.  

Will & Sean Maguire

In the end, Will's counselor, Sean Maguire, changed Will's mindset. Maguire constantly said to Will, "It's not your fault," several times. At first, Will brushed it off, but later he realized he didn't have to be defined by his trauma and that he was worthy of love. He chose to act beyond his fear, but out of genuine desire. At this time, Will exerted his primary control by moving to California to meet Skylar.