In some cases, the blackmailer could be trying to gain power or control over the situation. By having the threat of exposure, they can manipulate the mother and the men to do what they want, like getting involved in illegal activities or providing favors.
Another possible motive could be jealousy. Maybe the blackmailer has some sort of personal vendetta against the mother or the men she is with. They want to cause trouble and disrupt their relationships out of spite.
One way is to gather evidence against the blackmailer. If there are text messages or emails threatening blackmail, save them. This can be used to expose the blackmailer's illegal actions to the police.
Financial motives can also be there. If the wife discovers that the husband has some hidden money or is involved in some financial wrongdoings, she might blackmail him to get a share of the money or to make him correct his financial behavior. For instance, she could threaten to expose his tax evasion to the authorities if he doesn't give her a certain amount of money for household needs.
It depends on the cultural context. In some very liberal or non - traditional cultures, there might be more acceptance of complex relationship dynamics. However, even in those cases, it's often not without some form of judgment or negative consequences. For example, it can still affect the reputation of the family and cause internal family disputes.
Power and control can be motives too. In some cases, a person wants to have power over another. They think that by blackmailing, they can make the other person do what they want. For instance, in a workplace, an employee might try to blackmail a boss to get a promotion.
One possible motive could be jealousy. Maybe someone is envious of the love and family life the lesbian moms have built, so they try to blackmail them to disrupt it.
Jealousy might be a motive. Maybe the coach was never as successful as the jock in his own high school days. So, he blackmails the jock to make him feel superior. He could force the jock to miss important games or not get the proper training, just out of spite.
One possible motive could be financial need. Just like in the story of Mrs. Thompson, she might be in a difficult financial situation and see blackmail as a way to get quick money. Another motive could be revenge. If an older woman has been wronged by someone in the past and she discovers a secret of that person, she might use blackmail as a form of revenge.
One possible motive could be greed. The blackmailer might think they can get money or other valuable things from the victim by using this embarrassing and false scenario.
One common motive is money. Just like in the story I mentioned before, a family member might see an opportunity to get some financial gain by using a secret against another. For example, if a family member knows about an inheritance that was obtained through some unethical means in the past, they could blackmail the person who received it for a share.
It can cause a breakdown in communication within the family. Family members may become withdrawn or angry. For example, a husband may feel betrayed and become distant from his wife and children.