Intrinsic Vs Extrinsic Motivation: Which Is Better for Achieving Your Goals?

Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are both vital forces shaping human behavior and achievement.

But what exactly does each term mean and is one superior? This definitive guide examines intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, contrasting their differences and synergies. Most crucially, it provides science-backed techniques to tap into motivation's remarkable power to accomplish goals.

Table of Contents

• Defining Motivation: Why Do We Do What We Do?
• Intrinsic Motivation Explained
• Extrinsic Motivation Explained
• Core Differences Between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
• Evaluating Intrinsic vs Extrinsic: Which is Optimal?
• Harnessing Motivation's Power to Achieve Goals
• Advanced Tips to Cultivate Intrinsic Motivation
• Creating an Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation Balance

Defining Motivation: Why Do We Do What We Do?

But first, what precisely is motivation? Motivation refers to the inner force that activates, guides, and sustains goal-oriented behavior over time. It energizes human action, directs it toward specific objectives, and perpetuates through ongoing effort.

Motivation helps explain:

• Why we drag ourselves out of bed daily
• Why employees strive for that promotion
• Why we pursue beloved hobbies for decades
• How great leaders inspire history-altering movements

Quite simply: motivation supplies the "why" behind nearly all we do - both monumental efforts and daily decisions. Tapping its tremendous power both intrinsically and extrinsically is indispensable to achieving life's grandest ambitions.

Intrinsic Motivation Explained

Intrinsic motivation refers to internal drive arising from inherent satisfactions, meaning or challenge rather than external pressures or rewards. With intrinsic motivation, the task itself delivers deep fulfillment, aligned to internal passions, interests, and values. The motivation flows authentically from doing the activity itself rather than chasing any separable consequence.

Examples of intrinsic motivation include:

• An artist painting out of sheer love for creating
• A scientist pursuing research out of curiosity
• A marathon runner reveling in the exhilaration

The activity aligns intrinsically to their identity and passions - the behavior itself is the reward. No extraneous incentives are required to compel action.

Significantly, intrinsic motivation satisfies core psychological needs for autonomy, mastery and purpose - enabling both fulfillment and high performance. It empowers deeply self-sustaining perseverance that no amount of extrinsic rewards can conjure long-term.

Extrinsic Motivation Explained

Conversely, extrinsic motivation refers to drive arising from external consequences, whether tangible incentives, social pressures or coerced demands. With extrinsic motivation, behavior gets steered toward specific results, conclusions or separable rewards. The chief purpose isn't inherent enjoyment but directed output.

Common extrinsic motivators include:

• Money
• Fame
• Grades
• Praise
• Avoiding punishment

Examples include:

• Students cramming to ace standardized tests
• Employees working overtime for bonus pay
• Athletes driven by lucrative contracts and championships

The motivator is not intrinsic passion for the task but the detachable rewards it earns - be it medals, compensation, acclaim or avoiding negative repercussions. The behavior centers instrumentally on ambition rather than inherent satisfaction.

While often effective short-term, extrinsic motivators risk undermining internal drive if overly relied upon without deeper personal meaning. Nevertheless, proper external motivators can channel effort powerfully.

Core Differences Between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

While both profoundly influence behavior, intrinsic and extrinsic motivations differ significantly:

Intrinsic Motivation	Extrinsic Motivation
Emerges from within	Incentivized externally
Fueled by enjoyment	Driven by detachable rewards
Deeply fulfilling	Pressured feels controlled
Powerfully enduring	Effective short-term

Additionally:

• Intrinsic motivation promotes greater wellbeing and performance through fulfilling core needs. But may lack direction.
• Extrinsic supplies structure, expectations and impetus. But risks overjustification if imposed excessively without context.

Neither intrinsically nor extrinsically is superior universally. Optimal motivation skillfully integrates appropriate blends to potentiate human thriving.

Evaluating Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation: Which is Optimal?

Debates persist whether intrinsic or extrinsic dwarfs the other. But the truth is both are indispensable catalysts for extraordinary accomplishment.

Consider how Phil Jackson expertly blended athletes’ intrinsic love of basketball with the extrinsic direction of coordinating toward championships. Shrewdly interplaying intrinsic and extrinsic motivation ignites optimal drive.

While intrinsically tends more enduring as it ties directly to identity, even passions benefit from the expectations, feedback and impetus extrinsic motivators supply to progress. The most effective leaders channel intrinsic dedication toward extrinsic metrics measuring success.

In totality, the most empowering paradigm recognizes human motivation depends profoundly on both inner passions and outer direction focused rationally toward what an individual values most deeply.

Neither intrinsically nor extrinsically alone is sufficient. Optimal motivation interplays each judiciously based on the individual and context.

Harnessing Motivation's Power to Achieve Goals

Motivation is the indispensable force driving achievement. Whether pursuing fitness, career growth, artistic expression or any life ambition, proper motivation concentrating effort toward continual progress is fundamental.

Science reveals techniques to strategically harness motivation's immense power:

Cultivate Intrinsic Motivation

• Attach tasks to intrinsic passions
• Design growth-oriented challenges
• Make duties personally meaningful

Connect Extrinsic Drivers

• Establish accountability
• Benchmark metrics tracking improvement
• Define milestone rewards

Celebrate Small Wins

• Savor tiny gains evidence progress
• Enjoy recurring positive feedback

Enlist Social Support

• Share journey to feel understood
• Request encouragement from others
• Boost motivation through inspiration

In total, motivated achievement integrates intrinsic interests with extrinsic direction focused purposefully on what matters most to you. Rightly structuring systems that empower both inner passions and outer accountability potentates extraordinary success.

Advanced Tips to Cultivate Intrinsic Motivation

Though both intrinsic and extrinsic drivers are essential, intrinsic inspiration tends uniquely enduring as it ties directly to identity and innate passions.

Fortunately, research by pioneers like Deci, Ryan and Pink reveals techniques to nurture intrinsic motivation:

Enable Autonomy

• Ensure significant choice and self-direction

Allow Mastery

• Set optimally challenging, growth-oriented goals

Purpose

• Connect tasks directly to values and meaning

Novelty

• Incorporate new ideas and approaches

Flow

• Design intrinsically rewarding experiences

By incorporating science-verified techniques nurturing intrinsic motivation, any pursuits can become profoundly self-sustaining.

Creating an Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation Balance

Sustainable success requires balancing intrinsic passions with extrinsic direction, integrated into harmony.

Striving too heavily in either direction has consequences. Purely extrinsic risks demotivation from excessive control. But solely intrinsic may lack the feedback and expectations to continually improve.

The solution is incorporating autonomy-supportive systems supplying both intrinsic sustenance and extrinsic metrics guiding growth. Savvy goal-setters thus set Purpose (intrinsic) and Process (extrinsic) goals in tandem:

- Purpose locked to passions, values and meaning

- Process with metrics, accountability and milestone rewards

Get the blend right aligned individually, motivation unleashes boundless potential.

In conclusion, motivation is the prime mover of achievement - and intrinsically-powered progress propels the most incredible feats. Yet extrinsic direction remains indispensable to channeling motivation's mighty force. Master motivating yourself and others by artfully integrating intrinsic passions with extrinsic progress.