Issa's Values and Motivation in Her Career Pursuits

Expectancy-Value Theory is a psychological framework that helps us understand how individuals make decisions and set goals based on their expectations of success and the perceived value of achieving those goals. In the case of Issa Dee we can analyze her motivations and goal strivings through the lens of this theory.

1. Values in Expectancy-Value Theory:

Achievement Goals: These are the specific objectives individuals aim to accomplish. They can be short-term or long-term and may include personal, career, or academic goals.

Instrumentality: This refers to the connectedness or relevance of current tasks to the overall goals. In other words, it's the belief that achieving a specific goal will lead to desirable outcomes or rewards. In other words, it assesses the perceived connection between effort and success.

Developing Interests: This concept involves the idea that people are more likely to pursue and persist in activities or goals that align with their interests, passions, or values.

2. Issa Dee's Initial Motivation:

In the beginning of the series, Issa's motivation revolves around her career and personal growth. She works at a non-profit organization called We Got Y'all, and her goal is to make a positive impact on her community by helping underprivileged kids. Issa is motivated by her desire to make a difference and her passion for empowering young people. Her achievement goal is to succeed in her job and advance her career. However, Issa's intrinsic motivation to give back to her community does not immediately translate into setting mastery goals. At first, she strives to excel in her role to gain recognition within the organization, possibly receive promotions, and secure external rewards like financial stability. Yet, as she begins to question the effectiveness of her work and its alignment with her personal values, her pursuit of performance goals diminishes.

Issa's initial perception of instrumentality is that her work at We Got Y'all directly contributes to improving the lives of the children she serves. This belief is a significant motivator for her. Her developing interests are also closely tied to her job, as she genuinely cares about the well-being of the children and is passionate about using her talents and knowledge to help them.

3. Changes in Issa's Values and Motivations Over Time:

As the series progresses, Issa's values and motivations evolve:

Career Shift: Issa begins to question her career path and the actual impact of her work at We Got Y'all. She realizes that the organization might not be as effective as she once thought, leading to a shift in her achievement goals. She starts exploring other career opportunities, including her passion for music and event planning as a way to bring her community together and promote local artists. Issa realizes that relying on external help won't actually help her community in the long run and that if she wants to see a real impact being made, she will need to go on her own and start an initiative focused on all the artistries of her culture and how they can be showcased and used as an investment in the future of the local black community. 

Performance vs. mastery goals: As Issa shifts her focus towards music and event planning, her pursuit of mastery goals becomes more apparent. She is intrinsically motivated to develop her skills in these areas and improve for the sake of achieving her goal to give back that would eventually bring her personal satisfaction and sense of growth and mastery. Her actions and goal-striving are driven by her genuine interest in these fields (and the belief in the the power for change they bring) rather than external validation.

Instrumentality Reassessment: Issa's belief in the relevance of her job tasks to her overall goals changes. She no longer sees her time at We Got Y'All as the direct path to achieving her personal and professional goals. This reevaluation of instrumentality leads to a decline in her motivation to excel in her current role and brings about the career shift that ultimately changes her life for the better.

Exploration of Interests: Issa's exploration of her interests in music and event planning reflects a shift in her developing interests. She becomes more motivated to pursue these passions, as they align more closely with her personal values and aspirations, namely to help her community grow and improve the chances of the young and aspiring artists.

Relationship Motivations: Throughout the series, Issa's motivations are also influenced by her relationships with friends and romantic partners. Her desire for companionship and her evolving values in terms of love and relationships play a significant role in her decision-making and goal-setting by reflecting her growth and her belief in the importance of giving back.

4. Influence on Goal Striving:

Issa's changing values and motivations directly impact her goal striving. As Issa's perception of both endogenous and exogenous instrumentality changes over time, it significantly impacts her goal striving. Her motivation and efforts shift away from her current job when she no longer sees a strong connection between her tasks and her overarching life goals. Conversely, her motivation to pursue her interests in music and event planning grows as she perceives a stronger alignment between her actions and her evolving aspirations. This ultimately leads to the creation of a successful social business that brings the community together and utilizes its resources and talents in the most creative and impactful way. 

In conclusion, Issa Dee's motivations align with the value component of Expectancy-Value Theory as her values, goals, and beliefs about the instrumentality of her actions change over time. This evolution in her motivations reflects the dynamic nature of human decision-making and goal-setting, as individuals continuously reassess their values and strive for goals that align with their evolving causes, interests, and passions.