Briefly describe extrinsic and intrinsic motivation.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Extrinsic motivation involves external incentives such as rewards and punishments. The cognitive approaches stress the importance of intrinsic motivation in achievement. Intrinsic motivation is based on internal factors such as self-determination, curiosity, challenge, and effort. Some individuals study hard because they want to make good grades or avoid parental disapproval (extrinsic motivation). Others study hard because they are internally motivated to achieve high standards in their work (intrinsic motivation). One view of intrinsic motivation emphasizes self-determination. In this view, children want to believe that they are doing something because of their own will, not because of external success or rewards. 

An overwhelming conclusion of motivation research is that teachers should encourage students to become intrinsically motivated. Similarly, teachers should create learning environments that promote students' cognitive engagement and self-responsibility for learning.

That said, the real world includes both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and too often intrinsic and extrinsic motivation have been pitted against each other as polar opposites. In many aspects of students' lives, both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are at work. Further, both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation can operate simultaneously. Thus, a student may work hard in a course because she enjoys the content and likes learning about it (intrinsic) and because she wants to earn a good grade (extrinsic). Keep in mind, though, that many psychologists recommend that extrinsic motivation by itself is not a good strategy.