Possible motives for a heroine/villainess

Not sure why I did this, exactly 

Heroine 
Desire to do the right thing/sense of responsibility 
Pursuit of fame/attention 
Considers it a religious calling (maybe it is, depending on her power source)
Revenge
She’s an adrenaline junky
Wants attention 
Upholding a legacy 
Money (if in a position to get paid for it)
Idolizes superheroes (or a specific one).
Desire for love/acceptance, either in general or from specific people.
Atonement

Villainess
A sense of superiority/entitlement 
Money/greed
Religious fanaticism 
Desire for fame/attention 
Had a criminal background to begin with for some reason 
Sociopathy
Revenge on either specific people or the world as a whole.
Love or admiration of another villain 
Is the kind of person who would end up as a serial killer if she were a normal woman.  This can overlap with sociopathy.
Heavily autistic or mentally disabled person lashing out
Sense of justice taken too far.

I would add that no heroine or villainess would possess all the traits of your list and my additions, but perhaps several of them. 

Some Additions:

Heroine

Strong sense of justice (however they define justice)

Desire to help others / Altruism

Pushing back the darkness / fighting evil


Villainess

Narcissism,

Lust for power


The lust for power seems to always drive the worst of human behavior. 

shadar wrote: I would add that no heroine or villainess would possess all the traits of your list and my additions, but perhaps several of them. 

Some Additions:

Heroine

Strong sense of justice (however they define justice)

Desire to help others / Altruism

Pushing back the darkness / fighting evil


Villainess

Narcissism,

Lust for power


The lust for power seems to always drive the worst of human behavior. 

I know.  In case it wasn’t clear, I was listing options.