Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivations

Navigation: Main page » Motivation | Motivation Tips

 Print this page Submit articleComment article

Author: motivationnews

Extrinsic motivation is motivation that is inspired by outside forces.

Intrinsic motivation is motivation that is inspired from within a person.

Both types of motivation are essential to success. Below you will find different types of extrinsic and intrinsic motivational factors:

Extrinsic motivation comes from rewards and incentives (money,good grades,etc) that are positive reinforcements. An example of extrinsic motivation is a student studying and getting an A on an exam because the reward of a ski trip motivated him.

Completing a project for work ahead of schedule because an employee knows that raises are coming soon is an example of extrinsic motivation. A teenager may come home from a friend's house right before curfew, just to avoid being grounded. All of these actions are done because the person is trying to avoid some type of punishment or disapproval.

A possible problem with extrinsic motivation is that when the rewards stop, the motivation will come to an end. How do you keep, for example, an employee or child motivated? One solution is spacing out rewards so the person does not receive them all at once.

Intrinsic motivation comes from within a person. While this motivation is often strong, it is hard to maintain at times - especially when something bad is happening in a person's life.

Everyone wants to be happy, to achieve life goals, have high morals and values, have plenty of friends, and simply be able to survive in the world. Intrinsic motivation makes a person strive for these things in daily life.

Intrinsic motivation will make a person take a look in the mirror and say, "I can do it." This type of motivation will also make someone take a few minutes and reflect on what is important in his or her life. It will make them question why they are seeking out their goals and what they are willing to risk in order to attain them.