Problems of external motivation

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Although reward systems generally increase employee motivation, there is evidence that in some cases they can have the opposite effect. Research shows that excessive extrinsic rewards can undermine a person’s intrinsic motivation.

The phenomenon in which external incentives negatively influence intrinsic motivation is called the overjustification effect.

For example, if a person initially has a desire to read bahamas mobile database books for pleasure, then introducing external rewards for reading may lead to a decrease in their interest in this activity. Instead of enjoying the process, they begin to perceive reading as an obligation, which ultimately reduces their pleasure from it.

In a classic experiment by Lepper, Green, and Nisbett, children were rewarded for drawing with markers. Initially, they found the activity enjoyable and interesting, but after an external reward was introduced, the children became less willing to draw when no reward was offered. Children who were not rewarded for drawing continued to enjoy the activity.