Understanding the fundamental differences between internal and external drivers of behavior
Core Idea: Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation represent different psychological processes that drive behavior, with distinct impacts on creativity, persistence, and quality of engagement.
Key Elements
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Essential Distinctions:
- Process vs Result: Intrinsic focuses on the experience; extrinsic on outcomes
- Right Brain vs Left Brain: Intrinsic connects to creativity and social drives; extrinsic to achievement and ownership drives
- Sustainability: Intrinsic tends to be more sustainable long-term; extrinsic more immediate
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Key Research Findings:
- Overjustification Effect: External rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation for activities that were already enjoyable
- Cognitive Performance: Extrinsic rewards can decrease performance on tasks requiring creativity and cognitive flexibility
- London School of Economics Study: Financial incentives can reduce intrinsic motivation and diminish ethical reasons for compliance
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Optimal Application Strategy:
- Use extrinsic motivation for discovery and onboarding phases
- Transition users through intrinsic rewards (recognition, status, access)
- Build long-term engagement through intrinsic motivation
- Apply extrinsic motivation primarily for routine, mechanical tasks
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Educational Implications:
- Natural curiosity and creativity often shift to grade-seeking
- Students focus on minimum work for extrinsic results
- Learning becomes secondary to achievement markers
- Can lead to diminished enjoyment of learning itself
Additional Connections
- Broader Context: Motivation Theory (the broader field examining human drivers)
- Applications: Engagement Design Strategy (applying both types effectively)
- See Also: Daniel Pink's Drive Theory (influential framework for motivation)
References
- Yu-kai Chou, Actionable Gamification
- Daniel Pink, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
- Dan Ariely's research on motivation and performance
- Edward Deci and Richard Ryan's Self-Determination Theory
#motivation #psychology #gamification #behavioral-economics
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