What distinguishes intrinsic motivation from extrinsic motivation?

Intrinsic motivation refers to engaging in activities for their own sake, driven by personal satisfaction, enjoyment, or interest in the task itself. When a person is intrinsically motivated, they find the activity rewarding and fulfilling, independent of any external incentives. For instance, someone who enjoys reading does so for the love of the material and the thrill of gaining knowledge, not for any reward or recognition.

On the other hand, extrinsic motivation involves engaging in a behavior or activity to achieve an outcome that is separate from the activity itself, such as tangible rewards (money, grades, praise) or to avoid negative consequences. An example would be a student studying hard not out of a love for the subject but to earn a good grade or approval from teachers and parents.

This fundamental difference—where intrinsic motivation is about the inherent satisfaction of an activity while extrinsic motivation centers around external outcomes—clearly distinguishes the two types of motivation. Understanding this distinction is crucial in fields like education and psychology, as it impacts how individuals engage with tasks and their overall satisfaction and persistence.