1956–1960, Richard Stanley Peters, The Concept of Motivation, (second edition, 1960), chapter ii: “Motives and Motivationâ€, page 38:Psychologists have developed quasi-causal theories to explain the directedness of behaviour, to answer the question ‘Why are certain sorts of reasons operative?’ and these theories may well have insinuated themselves into ordinary language as part of the meaning of “motiveâ€. It might well be, therefore, that people who are slightly sophisticated by psychological theories assume some such necessary connexion between giving the motive for an action and making any assertions of a causal kind about a man’s emotional state.
To practice sophistry; change the meaning of, or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive.To sophisticate the understanding. — Southey.Yet Butler professes to stick to plain facts, not to sophisticate, not to refine. — M. Arnold.
To alter and make impure, as with the intention to deceive.To sophisticate wine. — Howell.They purchase but sophisticated ware. — Dryden.
