[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by LChoy

Just to add to this post, the classic acronym is MICE for the approach to cultivate and turn assets

Money - While very common motivator, it is also the most commonly detected giveaway, especially if the asset begins to obviously spend beyond their means

Ideology - As crunch mentioned, probably more common during the cold war, but modern examples include data leakers (Snowden and Chelsea Manning) where the asset's motivated by a cause

Coercion (extortion/blackmail) - May not always be negative control, but promises to allow an asset's family to live a normal life in the West, or seek first world medical treatment are common Coercion methods. However this an approach that best works short term as eventually the controller either needs to grant the carrot, or the asset controller gets burnt because they are either caught or the hold over them dissolves

Ego (Emotion) - This one is quite subtle and has overlap with the other 3. Like Cap mentioned, this approach is targeting an asset's core emotions, such as loneliness and a need for belonging, so this is where something like a honeytrap can be successful. Another example is where you target someone that has an ax to grind, someone who's been passed over for promotion throughout their career, or feels they don't get the respect they deserve. In this case money isn't the primary motivation but their need to get a sense of revenge against their organization or country

Also should be noted that recruiting assets rarely involve just 1 approach, and that the approach will change over time.

From history, Ideologues and the Ego/emotional driven drivers are the most destructive as they are the most difficult to detect

LChoy

Apparently this guy was $90,000 in debt, so I’m guessing money was the motivation here.