Extrinsically motivated behavior is driven by external rewards or pressures rather than inherent interest or enjoyment. Among common examples, the one that clearly exemplifies extrinsic motivation is doing something primarily to obtain a external benefit or avoid a penalty, such as babysitting a younger sibling to earn an hourly fee. Explanation and examples
- External rewards or punishments: Behavior is aimed at earning money, receiving praise, avoiding punishment, or gaining some separable outcome rather than for the activity itself. This is the hallmark of extrinsic motivation.
- Contrast with intrinsic motivation: Intrinsic motivation occurs when the activity itself is enjoyable or fulfilling, independent of any external rewards.
Representative example (extrinsic motivation)
- Babysitting your younger brother to receive an hourly fee. The primary driver is the external payment, not the intrinsic enjoyment of babysitting.
Notes on related concepts
- Extrinsic motivation exists on a continuum of autonomy. Some extrinsic motivations can be more autonomous (for example, recognizing the value of helping care for a family member) while others are more controlled (for example, doing a task solely to avoid scolding).
- In educational and organizational contexts, extrinsic incentives (grades, bonuses, recognition) can motivate behavior, but excessive or controlling extrinsic prompts may undermine long-term intrinsic interest.
If you have a list of options and want to identify which one is extrinsically driven, the one that centers on obtaining an external reward or avoiding an external consequence is the correct choice.
