Extrinsic motivation in psychology definition, characteristics and examples

Motivation can be defined as what drives us to do something. We could say that it refers to all those hopes, desires and aspirations that each human being possesses. Through their study, many authors have tried to delimit what conditions exist within the human being, the surrounding environment and its culture, which can explain why what you want and why what is done is done.

Therefore we can say that motivation refers to all those processes that provide our energy and direction behavior. When we see that a behavior has intensity, that it is strong and that it is resistant, we intuit that it is a motivated behavior towards achieving a goal, a goal. However, different types can be differentiated within motivation. Today, in Psychology-online, we are going to focus on extrinsic motivation, its definition, characteristics and examples.

1. What is extrinsic motivation in psychology: definition
2. Examples of extrinsic motivation
3. Difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation
4. Characteristics of extrinsic motivation
5. Types of extrinsic motivation

What is extrinsic motivation in psychology: definition

External events are Environmental, social and cultural sources of motivation that have the ability to energize and direct behavior.

The external event acquires the ability to energize and direct behavior to the extent that a behavior will have the possibility of producing consequences of reward or punishment. As we can see in the theory of operant conditioning. Thus, external incentives precede behavior and attract approach behavior or drive avoidance behavior.

Examples of extrinsic motivation

Extrinsic motivation is one that comes from the incentives and consequences provided by the environment, such as food, money, privileges, scholarships, trophies, points, awards, public recognition, etc.

Instead of participating or performing an action to experience inherent satisfactions derived from it, it is carried out by the "external" consequences that are obtained when doing it.

You could say that when a person wonders "¿What I won?"Before performing an action and sees that you can obtain an attractive environmental incentive, extrinsic motivation is the one that will encourage you to start and persist in performing such action.

Difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation

Contrary to extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation is one that drives the human being to get involved in an action to exercise their own abilities and master optimal challenges. That is, this type of motivation appears spontaneously as a result of the psychological needs of the human being to meet their own interest which is not related to any instrumental reason.

Intrinsic motivation appears in people as a result of the psychological needs they have within themselves and that are once satisfied, give rise to a personal satisfaction. They usually born from the spontaneous experiences that people have to feel autonomous, competent or related to others.

The search for intrinsic goals gives rise to better functioning and greater psychological well -being in the human being.

Characteristics of extrinsic motivation

The Extrinsic motivation It is determined by the incentives, the reinforcers and the punishments that can be obtained from the environment that surrounds human beings.

There can be no extrinsic motivation without a incentive that precedes the behavior. These might be A smile, an inviting aroma, a sound, A bad smell, a squeak, etc. All of them believe in the person who experiences them an expectation that a consequence will soon happen, being able to be both positive and negative. Do not confuse the incentive with the consequence, since the first precedes behavior and incite or inhibit it, while the consequences are after these and what they do is increase or reduce their persistence.

With regard to reinforcers, these are any extrinsic factor that increases the behavior of an individual. Can be classified in positive reinforcers which They increase probability future that a behavior is carried out. For example, get a trophy It will act as a positive reinforcer for the individual to try and train even more to repeat the behavior of participating in the competition and obtaining a new trophy.

On the other hand, we find the negative reinforcers, which are any stimulus that, when eliminated, increases the probability of conducting a behavior in the future. These are usually aversive and irritating, So the person is motivated to make them disappear. An example could be Listen to the alarm in the morning. Stop the noise produced by this can lead to the subject getting up from bed.

Already in the last place you have to refer to the Punishes, which are any environmental stimulus that when it appears tends to reduce the probability that undesirable behavior will be carried out. This type of motivation is used by many parents to educate their children so that they do not perform certain behaviors. For example if a child suspends an exam for not studying and Punishes without watching television, This will make the child study to approve the following exam and that in this way it is not punished.

Types of extrinsic motivation

Extrinsic motivation can be divided into four subtypes depending on the degree of autonomy required by the subject.

• External regulation: No autonomy. Its regulation processes are obedience, rewards and external punishments.
• Introjected regulation: somewhat autonomous. Its regulation processes are self -control, participation of self and internal rewards and punishments.
• Identified regulation: Mainly autonomous. Its regulation processes are personal importance and conscious valuation.
• Integrated regulation: completely autonomous. Its regulation processes are congruence, awareness and synthesis with itself.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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