Motivation Comes From Within
Even when positive reinforcement appears to be effective, people are really motivated from the inside out. A classroom example illustrates that we are internally motivated.
Rewards – External vs. Internal Motivation
Perseverance and The Relentless Pursuit of McNuggets!
A parent who attends an awards ceremony for her daughter discovers just how destructive external rewards are.
Self-Control: The Key to Happiness
I am frequently asked for evidence that internal control psychology/choice theory is effective. It’s a fair question. After all, if what I espouse doesn’t help us get to a better place, why would anyone want to learn about it and apply it? When I do parents workshops, I generally ask parents what they want for their kids. Their comments vary slightly, but all parents want their kids to be successful. Interestingly, the things most parents want for their kids have now been researched as part of an impressive longitudinal study. Research headed by Duke University’s Avshalom Caspi followed 1000 children [...]
External Motivation – The Quick Fix that Doesn’t Last
Alfie Kohn reviews some compelling research in a recent article, “Studies Support Rewards, Homework, and Traditional Teaching. Or Do They?” Kohn looks at three practices traditionally aligned with the carrot and stick approach to education: external rewards, homework, and direct instruction. Over the years, research appeared to routinely support these practices. Fortunately, Kohn has dug a little deeper – as usual – and unearthed studies that examined the effect of these “tried and true’ practices over time. The results may surprise you, especially if you are one of the many who believe in the value of external control psychology and [...]
External Rewards: Some Hidden Costs
Providing an external reward for learning is so pervasive that most of us never even consider the potential downside. In an earlier post – “Internal Motivation: Present from Birth” – I suggested that external rewards can actually interfere with learning. How can such a “common sense” practice as rewarding desirable behavior be so counterproductive? Let’s start with the findings of noted researcher Teresa Amabile. In Growing Up Creative: Nurturing a Lifetime of Creativity Amabile states, “Extrinsic motivation inhibits intrinsic motivation.” In other words, if we want to promote intrinsic motivation, one of the least effective things to do is utilize [...]
Internal Motivation: Present From Birth
There is a common belief that internal motivation emerges as children mature. Most people have no trouble accepting that adolescents are internally motivated but cling to the notion that younger children are motivated externally. The truth is that we are motivated from the inside out from the moment we are born. If you are skeptical, just observe an infant for a while and you’ll see internal motivation in action. It may have been simple luck that led the infant to hit that mobile in his crib, but once he hears the sound it makes or sees it move, he wants [...]
