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Analyzing how external factors like grades, money, and social praise influence our willingness to work.
Would you still work hard on a school project if there were no grades, no praise, and no prizes at the end? What actually drives us to finish the 'boring' stuff?
Extrinsic motivation is the drive to perform a task to earn a reward or avoid a punishment. Unlike intrinsic motivation (doing something because you enjoy it), this comes from the outside. Think of it as a 'transaction.' Common rewards include grades, money, social praise, or trophies. Consequences might include detention, fines, or losing privileges. While it is a powerful tool, it usually only lasts as long as the reward or threat is present. If the reward disappears, the behavior often stops.
1. A student finds History class very difficult and uninteresting. 2. Their parents offer a reward: for every grade of or higher, they earn hour of extra gaming time. 3. The student studies hard, not because they love History, but to get the 'payout.' 4. This is a classic example of using an external reward to bridge the gap in interest.
Quick Check
If you clean your room only to avoid being grounded, what type of motivation are you using?
Answer
Extrinsic motivation (specifically, avoiding a punishment).
Psychologists often compare the 'Carrot' (rewards) and the 'Stick' (punishments). Positive reinforcement (adding a reward) is generally more effective for teaching new behaviors. It builds a positive association with the task. Punishment is better at stopping a behavior quickly, but it often creates fear or resentment rather than a desire to do better. If the 'stick' is removed, the bad behavior often returns because the person hasn't learned why they should change. For long-term growth, the carrot usually beats the stick.
1. A city wants to reduce speeding on a busy road.
2. Strategy A (The Stick): Police issue a $\$20010\%$ discount on their car insurance.
4. Strategy A stops the behavior through fear, while Strategy B encourages a long-term habit through a benefit.
Quick Check
Why is a reward usually better than a punishment for building a new habit?
Answer
Rewards create positive associations and teach the desired behavior, whereas punishments only teach what NOT to do.
Is extrinsic motivation 'bad'? Not at all! It is essential in three main areas: Boring Tasks (when a task is repetitive, like washing dishes), Safety (speeding tickets keep roads safe), and Getting Started. Sometimes we need a 'jumpstart' reward to try something new before we realize we actually enjoy it. However, we must watch out for the Overjustification Effect: if you start paying someone to do something they already love, their natural interest might actually decrease because it starts to feel like 'work.'
1. A library starts a program where kids get a free pizza for every books they read. 2. A student who already loved reading starts reading as many short, easy books as possible just to get the pizza. 3. Once the program ends, the student stops reading entirely because they now associate reading with 'earning a pizza' rather than fun. 4. This shows how extrinsic rewards can sometimes 'crowd out' internal joy.
Which of the following is an example of extrinsic motivation?
According to the lesson, when is punishment ('the stick') most useful?
Adding a reward to an activity someone already loves will always make them love it more.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain the 'Overjustification Effect' to a friend or family member without looking at your notes.
Practice Activity
Identify one task you do purely for a reward (extrinsic) and one you do just because you like it (intrinsic). How does your effort change between the two?