Extrinsic Versus Intrinsic Motivation

Extrinsic motivation is when you do something to receive a reward or to avoid punishment. For example, a child wants to make the basketball team so he can be popular and get closer to the cheerleaders.

Intrinsic motivation is when doing an activity is rewarding in and of itself. A child wants to be on the basketball team because he loves to play basketball. Or he’s fascinated with the idea of learning the game. The reward is internal.