Definition: Extrinsic Motivation refers to external incentives (such as money, grades, or prizes) for a person to perform a given task.
Extrinsic Motivation can be contrasted with Intrinsic Motivation, a highly desired form of incentive that stems simply from a person's internal desire for self-satisfaction or pleasure in performing the task itself.
As teachers, it can be a slippery slope if we offer only material incentives for our students to learn or perform basic tasks. If Extrinsic Motivations become the primary incentives that motivate students to perform their work, the children will develop poor habits and miss out on the self-satisfaction that comes from hard work.
