There are days when you just don’t feel like lifting a finger for anything or anyone. The goals are known, the agenda is full, but laziness sets in. When this happens, we need motivation to get us out of the impasse. So, whether it comes from within or without, motivation is a useful source of determination. In this article, we’ll be talking about motivation that comes from external factors: extrinsic motivation. It’s a good ally when you need a good reason to keep going, or something to hold on to. It’s a lifeline when you’ve hit rock bottom and can’t find the strength within yourself to get back up.

But what exactly is it? And how can you use it to make this type of motivation effective and help you move forward? With the help of a few examples, find out a little more about this motivation that doesn’t come from you. You’ll then be able to recognize it and use it effectively.

Extrinsic motivation: what is it?

What’s the point…? It’s a question we’ve probably asked ourselves in some situations. Whether in the professional or personal sphere, the ups and downs of everyday life sometimes cause us to falter. To cope, we need to draw on the (unknown) strengths within ourselves to take action.

But in most cases, we find our motivation in external factors that can “force” us to act. We act because something external, whatever it may be, stimulates us. This is called extrinsic motivation. It could be a reward, a payment deadline, recognition, a person…

Extrinsic motivation comes from the outside, as opposed to intrinsic motivation, which comes from within. I can even call this type of motivation “motivation by others” or “external motivation”. It’s a mental process that leads some people to act not because of the action itself, but because of the result of their actions.

Types of external motivation
Motivation by others can be really useful, even vital, in certain situations. Generally speaking, sources of extrinsic motivation are tangible or psychological. The former are fitness factors. Any kind of financial reward can be an example of a tangible factor. Other types include gifts, trophies and so on. On the other hand, psychological factors are abstract in nature and have no physical form. Examples of intangible external motivators include fame and praise.

Whatever their nature, they are factors that can lead to results, but are they really positive? These are, among other things, extrinsic motivators:

Rewards: money, medals, gifts, salary, promotion, extras, bonuses, etc.
Social recognition: a beautiful house, parental approval, the admiration of others, a superb car…
Punishments: prison, correction, bad grades, sanctions, seizure of property…
Rules: laws, house rules, traffic regulations…
Social comparison: appearing to be the best, the most successful, proving your worth by beating others…

These are the reasons that drive most people to do their best and be more productive.

Some examples of the use of extrinsic motivation

The school system is a typical example of extrinsic motivation. There’s homework, grades, exams and tests. These are external motivators that “force” the learner to take an interest in his or her lessons. Even if the knowledge acquired is really an asset for the learner, the system is oiled to force him to take an interest. They must follow standardized programs and study things that are imposed on them. And this from an early age. For most, it’s not a question of understanding. Extrinsic motivation in the school environment requires learners to follow and revise their lessons. If this is not the case, poor results will follow.

The professional sector also relies on external motivational factors to succeed in its activities. Salaries, bonuses, raises, promotions, requests for explanations, sanctions, dismissals… these are all incentives that force employees to give their best to be productive. Some employers are even more devious, creating a competitive or quarrelsome atmosphere to make their employees more determined and hard-working. This is pure extrinsic motivation.

The same applies to athletes. They often engage in strenuous and difficult training sessions. They train day and night to compete. What’s the point? Well, it’s to achieve the common goal of almost all athletes. And that’s to win trophies and awards, like cups and medals. Being recognized, making headlines, breaking records, signing contracts with famous clubs, becoming an example… All these little things that give them the strength to climb the ladder constitute their external motivation.

Extrinsic motivation: its effectiveness

Extrinsic motivation may be more effective for some people than for others. On the other hand, there are some on whom inner motivation would work better. What’s more, some situations may be better suited to this form of motivation than others. External rewards can indeed be a useful and effective tool for getting people to stay motivated in accomplishing a task. This can be particularly effective when you have to do something that seems difficult or uninteresting, such as a boring homework assignment or a tedious work-related project.

Extrinsic motivation can effectively be seen as a stimulus to motivate a person to perform a task that previously did not interest them, or where basic skills are lacking. Once these initial skills have been acquired, you can then be more intrinsically motivated to continue the activity. External rewards can also let a person know when their skills have reached a level worth developing.

On the other hand, praise can have a positive influence on a person’s intrinsic motivation. Parents can use it to encourage their children to improve. A good use of extrinsic motivation. However, certain elements should not be used as a source of motivation, as this can lead to the development of unhealthy habits later on. For example, using food as a reward can lead to unhealthy eating habits.

There’s another thing to remember. As long as the reward is used sparingly, so as not to lose its impact, external motivation remains effective. What’s more, if the value of the reward is too high, this can lead to what’s known as the overjustification effect.

THE EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION TRAP
Performance, targeted goals or low persistence are all elements associated with extrinsic motivation. Unfortunately, external factors are only ephemeral. For example, they motivate us to do better than others, or to pass an exam. And once the result is achieved, poof! The desire disappears.

But there’s a major drawback. Once the reward is gone, or its value exhausted, the drive is no longer the same. This is one of the problems, one of the downsides, that you have to watch out for when using extrinsic motivation. In fact, it’s a stimulant, so this source of motivation is only effective in the short term. It is also possible to depend on the reward. Which is not necessarily a good thing.

It’s true that some people are able, thanks to regulation, to appropriate these stimuli so that, in the end, they become intrinsic reasons for determination. But not everyone can do this. In such cases, the person is only compelled to act when the result is not achieved. This is because, in reality, it’s only extrinsic motivation that counts.

Although offering rewards can increase motivation in some cases, researchers have also found that this is not always the case. In fact, offering excessive rewards can lead to a decrease in intrinsic motivation. Presumably, some people become demotivated when successes pile up.

What to remember?

Various external factors make up the form of stimulation known as external motivation. It should be noted that it corresponds to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, with the need for security in particular. Depending on how it is used, extrinsic motivation can have negative long-term effects. All in all, it is probably an effective method, provided it is combined with other forms of motivation. Extrinsic motivations can have a real impact on our lives, prompting us to perform certain actions. It’s also worth mentioning that its effectiveness varies according to the individual.

In the end, it doesn’t matter where the motivation comes from, the important thing is that it leads to action. And it’s action that leads to change in life. Let’s just hope we always act for the right reasons.

What’s your opinion on extrinsic motivation? Do you think it’s a good way of encouraging yourself? And are there any external factors that motivate you every time?