According to Cherry (2023), intrinsic motivation drives one to engage in a behavior for enjoyment, while extrinsically motivated persons will engage in an action just for the reward. The motivational concept is a driving force in our daily activities. It dictates how we go about things. Psychologists have devised multiple theories to explain different ways of looking at motivation. The big question is, what is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation? This paper will deeply dive into contrasting intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and their importance in enhancing authenticity.
I was captured by the topic of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, particularly its role in understanding our behaviors as human beings and how we can help in authentication. Morris et al. (2022) cite that there has been a lack of clear consensus about the role played by intrinsic motivations in different fields. I have been curious about the neurocognitive mechanism that drives people to act. Exploring these concepts and how human behavior can influence authenticity has intrigued me.
Intrinsic motivation is all about actions that are fueled internally; they are internal factors. For instance, participating in a sport because you love it, cleaning your space because you love tidiness, and volunteering because it makes you content (Barr, 2022). On the other hand, intrinsic motivation includes a drive from an external force or factor. For instance, we can look for a price, a trophy, or a reward. The reward will be a driving force for the doer to act. I sometimes had an extrinsic motivation when I had to learn a new language to meet my bosses’ specifications.
About nurturing authenticity, intrinsic motivation has been a key player. But what is authenticity? According to TodayStaff (2024), authenticity is the ability to understand what motivates and be true to yourself deeply. As we know, intrinsic motivations come from one internal values and passion; intrinsically motivated individuals are more likely to act according to what their self tells them. Attitudes greatly influence how we interact with others (Attitudes and Attitude Change 5). The idea of doing what you resonate with rather than not faking anything contributes greatly to authenticity, unlike extrinsically motivated individuals.
In contrast, extrinsic motivation may tamper with the deliverance of authenticity. When individuals are motivated by external forces, their contribution is solely based on the reward ahead. In this case, the motive is to complete the action and get the reward ahead of them rather than fulfilling one’s authenticity or being contented by what they do. Pursuing external rewards leads to actions that do not demonstrate internal feelings. In turn, these actions compromise the motivation to do what you feel, limiting authenticity.
Social perception is a key driver to how people end up in either kind of motivation. Oxford (2023) defines social perception as the ability to come up with accurate inferences based on people’s appearances. In the case of intrinsic motivation, individuals have engaged in activities aligning with their self-perception; they are more likely to project that authenticity to others, hence creating genuine connections. On the other hand, extrinsic motivations can be determined by social perception. Here, individuals are driven by the rewards and more focused on meeting societal expectations; they often fall into cognitive dissonance (Attitudes and Attitude Change 4). In this way, social perception can be detrimental to authenticity because individuals prioritize their image rather than expressing themselves.
In conclusion, intrinsic motivation plays a key role in enhancing the cultivation of authenticity compared to extrinsic motivations. Intrinsic motivation is a genuine desire to do actions you are contented with, while external forces fuel extrinsic motivation and do not represent oneself. Social perception can influence a person’s motivation. Understanding its role in authenticity can help spread the ‘gospel’ of intrinsic motivations in various institutions.
References
Barr, E. (2022, July 15). Extrinsic & intrinsic motivation examples – what’s the difference? • sprigghr. SpriggHR. https://sprigghr.com/blog/hr-professionals/extrinsic-intrinsic-motivation-examples-whats-the-difference/
Cherry, K. (2023, December 13). Extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation: What’s the difference? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/differences-between-extrinsic-and-intrinsic-motivation-2795384
Morris, L. S., Grehl, M. M., Rutter, S. B., Mehta, M., & Westwater, M. L. (2022). On what motivates us: A detailed review of intrinsic v. extrinsic motivation. Psychological Medicine, 52(10), 1801–1816. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291722001611
Oxford. (2023, March 2). Social perception: Definition and explanation. The Oxford Review. https://oxford-review.com/oxford-review-encyclopaedia-terms/social-perception/
TodayStaff. (2024). Authenticity. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/authenticity
write