Introduction
The forces that push, activate, or move someone to take action might be thought of as motivation. It is something that motivates a person to take action and encourages him to keep going in the right direction to achieve his objectives. We define motivation as the act of someone working towards a specific objective or goal. Intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation are two significant types of motivation.
The first thing that strikes our mind when we consider motivation is whether it comes from within (intrinsic) or without (extrinsic). The best way to define intrinsic motivation is as behavior that is motivated by internal rewards. The motivation that is dependent on a person’s external requirements, such as money, position, grades, etc., is known as extrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic Motivation Vs. Extrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation involves engaging for own sake and personal satisfaction. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, refers to doing something for a goal or external reward other than enjoyment. Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation does not, however, indicate the source of motivation.
According to research, people perform better over the long term, especially when they are intrinsically motivated, as seen by the higher quality of their acts. They are more fervent and have a greater feeling of dedication to themselves. When faced with challenges, they are more tenacious. Also, those people are more inventive and more likely to produce original ideas and solutions. Extrinsic motivation occasionally behaves like its intrinsic equivalent, even though intrinsic motivation generally seems to be superior to extrinsic motivation. When a person’s actions are motivated by reasons that are consistent with their values, they can internalize those reasons.
Difference Between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation In Tabular Form
| Parameters | Intrinsic Motivation | Extrinsic Motivation |
| Meaning | Intrinsic motivation is a type of drive that originates from a person’s internal desires and appreciation of an activity. | Extrinsic motivation refers to a sort of motivation that is brought on by external causes, frequently ones that are financial in origin. |
| Concerned with | How well does the activity fit a person’s values? | What impact does the action have on the present moment? |
| Driven by | Own wants and ambitions. | Sources from outside or other people. |
|
Purpose of work | Enjoyment in the work itself | Benefits delivered from working |
| Emotions experienced | Pleasant (enjoyment, freedom, and pleasure). | Tension and pressure (social approval is not under their control). |
| Rewards received | Affective and emotional upliftment. | Social and material rewards. |
What is Intrinsic Motivation?
When there are no visible external rewards for our actions, we act out of intrinsic motivation. Specifically, we like an activity or regard it as a chance to discover, grow, and reach our full potential. You are motivated organically when you pursue an activity just for the sake of enjoying it. Your reasons for acting out are wholly internal, not driven by a need for some sort of reward from the outside world, like accolades, money, or prizes. Of course, this does not imply that actions driven by intrinsic motivation are not rewarded in some way. These benefits involve instilling cheerful feelings in the recipient. Actions that gave you a sense of purpose, like volunteering or attending church events, can cause help you feel competent when you learn something new or improve your skills at a task as well as progress when you can see the results of your work.
According to the American Psychological Association, intrinsic motivation is “a motivation to engage in a specific activity that derives from pleasure in the activity itself rather than because of any potential external benefits such as money, course credits, etc.” For example, a genuine interest in a subject studied.
Problems that emerged within each branch of behaviorism contributed to the development of the idea of intrinsic motivation. As a result, the concept was initially described in two different ways. The first argued that not all behaviors are influenced by primal desires like sex, hunger, and thirst. The other approach suggested that actions motivated by intrinsic factors are those for which the actions themselves are satisfying and do not need to have separate consequences. Naturally, this is at odds with the Skinnerian viewpoint, which contends that all behaviors are regulated by enforcing consequences unrelated to the action themselves.
Factors that Influence Intrinsic Motivation
- Challenge: While pursuing goals that have personal significance and when success is feasible but not guaranteed, people are more driven. When performance evaluation is available, these objectives might also be related to their self-esteem.
- Control: Humans want to have control over their circumstances, themselves, and the things they pursue.
- Competition and Cooperation: When people feel good about assisting others, their intrinsic motivation may be boosted. It also holds in situations where they can positively contrast their performance with others.
- Curiosity: When something in the immediate surroundings piques someone’s interest, their internal motivation increases (sensory curiosity). It also happens when a participant is motivated to learn more by something about the activity (cognitive curiosity).
- Recognition: Receiving praise from others for one’s efforts might help people feel more motivated.
- Alignment with Personal Values: By connecting the action with the concept of the self, the phenomenon of integrated motivation demonstrates the potential to harness intrinsic motivation. Gaining clarity regarding your values and determining how the activity promotes and supports them will help you achieve this.
Benefits of Intrinsic Motivation
Many pieces of research have emphasized the advantages of intrinsic motivation. Changes in health-related behavior among them include:
- Benefits for mental health include reduced sadness, somatization, and anxiety as well as improved quality of life.
- Benefits for physical health, such as reduced smoking, more exercise, weight loss, better glycemic control, better medication use, healthier eating patterns, and improved dental cleanliness.
- Higher levels of performance, perseverance, and employee happiness, as well as reduced turnover intentions, have been noted in other studies.
When Intrinsic Motivation is Best?
Praise has been linked to an increase in intrinsic motivation, according to research. Children’s intrinsic motivation is increased when they receive positive feedback that is “sincere”, “promotes autonomy”, and “conveys attainable standards”. On the other hand, if external rewards are given too carelessly, they may reduce intrinsic motivation. Children’s intrinsic motivation decreased when they received excessive praise for finishing simple tasks or little work.
What is Extrinsic Motivation?
Extrinsic motivation is a type of drive that is fueled by benefits from outside sources. They can be material, like cash or grades, or immaterial, like acclaim or renown. Extrinsic motivation is solely focused on external rewards, in contrast to intrinsic motivation, which comes from within the person. Extrinsically motivated individuals will keep a task even if it isn’t particularly enjoyable in and of itself. For instance, someone might perform a task at work that they dislike to pay their bills. Operant conditioning, in which a person or item is trained to perform a certain manner in exchange for a reward or punishment, involves extrinsic incentives.
This kind of drive can be very powerful. Just consider all the instances in your own life in which you have taken actions to obtain some sort of benefit from the outside world. Extrinsic Motivation is not a negative thing. In order to keep people motivated and focused on their goals, external rewards can be a beneficial and successful strategy. This can be especially crucial when people have to finish a task that they find challenging or monotonous, like a tiresome project for work or a laborious school assignment.
Examples of Extrinsic Motivation
- Rewards: A person could want to finish chores to get money, gifts, stickers, toys, or other people’s approval.
- Punishments: Time-outs, the loss of particular privileges, or suspension from school or work.
- Competition with others: When it comes to school scores or behavior charts, a person could wish to outperform their counterparts.
- Compensation: Tip money, benefits from the employer, and salary raises might encourage employees to put in extra effort when delivering goods or services.
As of now, receiving money is thought to be the best motivator for desired behavior. It has been questioned, nevertheless, whether money genuinely inspires individuals to work or rather forces them to do so. More compensation, and additional perks like retirement plans, a profit-sharing program, paid time off, health insurance, food discounts, etc., can all be examples of this.
Importance of Extrinsic Motivation
Extrinsic motivation is significant because it can be a useful tool for changing behavior. The possibility of getting rewards or penalties from outside sources frequently motivates people to act in specific desirable ways. Extrinsic motivation can be helpful in keeping some employees determined and productive while facing problems at work because it often works best when pushing people to undertake complex or less stimulating jobs. Notwithstanding these advantages, it’s crucial to remember that extrinsic motivation differs from person to person and frequently depends on the circumstances.
Extrinsic motivation may be the most effective when employed sparingly and temporarily, and when the value of a reward balances the cost of the behavior. In some circumstances and when dealing with particular people, extrinsic incentive works quite well. It can be used to motivate us to take action or coerce others into doing what we want. It can also lead to consequences that are very predictable.
When Extrinsic Motivation is Best?
Extrinsic rewards include more than just bribery. Extrinsic motivation can be used to accomplish a task when people aren’t always internally motivated to do so. Extrinsic benefits can pique someone’s interest in a task or talent they had no prior inclination to pursue. In addition to verbal praise and correction, rewards including praise, commissions, bonuses, prizes, and rewards can inspire workers to develop new abilities or offer concrete feedback.
By the over-justification effect, studies have demonstrated that providing too many rewards for actions and behaviors that people are already intrinsically driven to undertake can lower those individuals’ intrinsic motivation.
The Main Difference Between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation In Points
- When someone is motivated only by internal factors, such as enjoyment of the process or seeing it as an opportunity to learn something new or explore a concept, they are more likely to act in ways that fully utilize their potential whereas extrinsic motivation refers to when someone engages in an activity to obtain a benefit or stay away from a negative consequence.
- In intrinsic motivation, the action that the person has control over and which is thought to be significant is what drives them. As a result, it forces people to engage in an activity for their choice or out of a desire rather than for the benefit it will offer whereas extrinsic motivation focuses on the benefit obtained from completing the activity. This indicates that it makes people do things for earning a concrete or intangible benefit.
- With intrinsic motivation, the decision to complete the work is made by the person whereas extrinsic motivation places the locus of control outside the purported task-performer.
- In addition to finding potential and exploring abilities, intrinsic motivation tries to groom, develop, and satisfy the individual whereas extrinsic motivation aims to obtain a benefit or prevent an undesirable outcome.
- The fundamental psychological requirements of a person for independence, competence, etc. can be met through intrinsic motivation whereas extrinsic motivation embraces external benefits like money, power, celebrity, etc. but does not satisfy a person’s basic psychological needs.
- How well does the task or activity being pursued align with the person’s values, is it a topic of intrinsic motivation. Unlike intrinsic motivation, which is focused on the future, extrinsic motivation is concerned with the present.
- When someone is motivated by intrinsic factors, they enjoy the task; yet, when someone is driven by extrinsic factors, they place more value on the accolades and rewards they will receive for completing the task.
- An individual’s own needs and desires serve as the source of intrinsic motivation whereas the extrinsic incentive is driven by external factors, typically another person.
Conclusion
An internal force called motivation directs an employee’s behavior. They are determined by demands, benefits, and efforts. In life, both sorts of motivation are significant. A person is motivated to engage in an activity for their happiness through intrinsic motivation, which comes from inside. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is when you act in response to an outside influence rather than out of internal fulfillment.
References
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/intrinsic-extrinsic-motivation