a likely benefit triggers action
You’re a brainless idiot who thinks maybe the good stuff will happen and you won’t care about the pain later.
He kissed his boss because he thought it would get him a raise. It didn’t. And now he’s getting a raise in embarrassment.
She took the job because she thought it would be easy. Now she’s working 80 hours a week and crying in the bathroom.
He got into a fight because he thought he’d win. He lost. And now he’s got a broken nose and a reputation.