Question

What is intrinsic and extrinsic motivation? when should you give reward and praises to children and when should you not? should you give reward or praises to encourage intrinsic motivation? why?

Answer 1

Intrinsic and extrinaic motivation can impact behavior in different ways. Intrinsic motivation is when people do something because they enjoy doing it or derive pleasure from doing it. For ex- solving a puzzle because you find it interesting and pleasurable.

Extrinsic motivation occurs when we are motivated to engage in a behavior to earn a reward or avoid a punishment. For ex- studying hard because you want to get good grades.

External motivation i.e rewards and praises should be used to induce some interest in the activities for which the children had no earlier interest. For ex- rewards can be used with early school children to complete their assignments and homework in which they have no initial interests. However, praises and rewards should not be used everytime a child completes some task because it will decrease the intrinsic motivation of that child in carrying out that task, thus rewards or praises should only be used for particular tasks or works.

Yes, rewards or praises should be given to increase intrinsic motivation in a child because offering praise or rewards when a child do something in comparison to others can encourage intrinsic motivation for future success or accomplishments also.