Motivation can be intrinsic or extrinsic. Extrinsic motivation comes from external sources, such as rewards or punishments, while intrinsic motivation comes from within the individual. Extrinsic motivation can be effective in eliciting certain behaviors, but it can also reduce intrinsic motivation and is not effective in the long run. Intrinsic motivation is self-sustaining and more often associated with ongoing academic success.
Motivation can be defined as the will to act or the internal mechanism that stimulates goal-oriented behavior. For humans, there are typically two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic motivation comes from outside the individual.
Some examples of sources of extrinsic motivation are rating systems, trophies, popularity, or money. Extrinsic motivation could also be negative, as in the case of punishments or coercion. In any case, this type of motivation is rooted in external sources; it comes from the individual’s environment, rather than from within the individual.
Extrinsic motivation is present throughout a person’s life. As a child, an individual experiences it in the form of grades on tests and homework or in the form of increased popularity that is a result of certain behaviors. Into adulthood, an individual experiences it in the form of salary, status or recognition, and even everyday things like rewards or credit card incentives.
The other type of motivation is intrinsic. This can be differentiated from extrinsic in that motivation derives from benefits that are inherent in the activity or behavior itself. Intrinsic motivation comes from within the individual; motivation is present because the person enjoys a certain task or behavior, feels a sense of satisfaction working on it, or takes pleasure in completing it. An intrinsically motivated person may still seek reward for the behavior, but the reward will not be the behavior’s sole purpose. An example of intrinsic motivation is when a person works on Sudoku puzzles simply because he finds pleasure in the activity.
Extrinsic motivation can be very effective in eliciting certain behaviors. A person who is extrinsically motivated might work on a task even though she has no interest in it, solely for the purpose of receiving the expected reward or avoiding punishment. Because of this, the individual may focus more on the reward and less on the task itself, and may stop completing the task when the reward is no longer available.
There are downsides to extrinsic motivation. Research indicates that receiving extrinsic rewards could reduce a person’s level of intrinsic motivation. When a person is rewarded for a task, what reason does he have for completing the task for nothing? Furthermore, extrinsic motivation cannot be argued; when the punishment or reward remains at the same level over a period of time, motivation decreases and the individual demands greater rewards or punishments for the same behavior.
Extrinsic motivation might be immediately effective and easy to use, but external rewards are typically not effective in the long run. Intrinsic motivation, on the other hand, can be self-sustaining and long-lasting. Research shows that this type of motivation is more often associated with ongoing academic success than the extrinsic type.
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