In fact, it can sometimes be extremely beneficial, particularly in situations where students need to complete a task that they find unpleasant. Is there room for both?Ĭommon sense shows us that extrinsic motivation is not always a bad thing, particularly when it comes to teaching children. Do I have as many stickers as Mary? Is my teacher happy with me because I did the assignment the right way? If students are always looking outside of themselves for validation, they will be unhappy and unproductive when that validation is not readily available, and their self-esteem can suffer. When children rely too much on external motivation, they learn to compare themselves to others and may give too much weight to other people’s opinions. Does extrinsic motivation affect a student’s self-esteem? According to Monica Frank, PhD, “The more children are provided rewards for activities that have natural reward, the more they will expect reward and be unable to set or achieve goals without that extrinsic motivation.” We’ve all had students that demand to know “What are we doing this for?” or “What do we get if we complete this task?” If we provide the “why” for our students too frequently, we stand in the way of them becoming independent learners. One study out of Princeton University goes so far as to say, “External incentives are weak reinforcers in the short run, and negative reinforcers in the long run.” Does it create dependencies?Īnother criticism is that sometimes kids get hooked on the rewards that come with extrinsic motivation. Studies have shown that extrinsic motivation produces only short-term effects, at best. Does extrinsic motivation work?Īs educators, we have heard a lot about the downside of extrinsic motivation.
Students choose behaviors not because they enjoy them or find them satisfying, but in order to get something in return or avoid an adverse outcome.
Or they mind their behavior because they don’t want to lose their recess. For example, a student studies for a test because they want to earn a good grade. you expect to get something for completing a certain task, or you want to avoid a consequence for not doing something). Extrinsic motivation is doing something to earn a reward or to avoid a punishment.
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