which of the following exemplifies extrinsically motivated behavior?
Extrinsically motivated behavior is any action done primarily to gain a reward or avoid a punishment, rather than for enjoyment or interest in the activity itself.
Core idea
- Extrinsic motivation means a person engages in a behavior because of outside consequences such as money, grades, praise, prizes, promotions, or avoiding criticism and penalties.
- The key sign is that the behavior is a means to an end (the reward or avoidance of punishment), not rewarding on its own.
What it looks like in practice
Examples that do exemplify extrinsically motivated behavior include:
- Studying hard mainly to get an A or a scholarship, not because the subject is interesting.
- Working overtime to earn a bonus or impress a boss for a promotion.
- Cleaning a room to avoid being yelled at or punished by parents.
- Participating in a contest just to win a prize or gain fame.
Each of these is driven by an external outcome (grades, money, praise, avoiding anger), not by genuine enjoyment of the task itself.
How to spot the correct option on a test
When you see multiple choices and must pick which “exemplifies extrinsically motivated behavior,” choose the option where:
- The person does something:
- For a reward (money, trophy, praise, good grade), or
- To avoid something negative (punishment, criticism, embarrassment).
- The description makes it clear they do not find the activity inherently interesting or fun; they are focused on the outcome instead.
If you share the specific answer choices, a selection can be made about which one is extrinsically motivated.