Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation
Motivation & Engagement
Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation
The distinction between motivation that comes from internal sources (interest, enjoyment, meaning) versus external sources (rewards, deadlines, social pressure).
Explained
- Internal motivation comes from curiosity, mastery, and meaning, while external motivation comes from points, badges, and rewards.
- Internal drives tend to last far longer than external ones.
- Piling rewards onto something people already enjoy can actually erode that enjoyment.
- Once the reward stops, behaviour propped up only by it tends to collapse.
In the wild
No indexed product screens use this model yet — check back as more products are analyzed.
Related modelsMotivation & Engagement
Log in to view
Create a free account to unlock the full analysis — every screen, model, and insight.