overjustificatieeffect

The overjustification effect is a psychological phenomenon where a person's intrinsic motivation to perform an activity decreases after they have been rewarded for it. This occurs because the individual begins to attribute their motivation to the external reward rather than their own internal enjoyment of the task. Essentially, the reward becomes the reason for doing the activity, diminishing the original interest.

This effect was first demonstrated in experiments by psychologists Mark Lepper, David Greene, and Richard Nisbett in the 1970s. They found that children who were rewarded for drawing, an activity they had previously enjoyed, subsequently spent less time drawing when no reward was offered. The introduction of an extrinsic reward undermined their intrinsic motivation.

The overjustification effect highlights the potential downsides of using external motivators. While rewards can be effective in encouraging initial engagement or for tasks that are not inherently enjoyable, they can be detrimental to sustained interest and passion. It suggests that in situations where intrinsic motivation already exists, introducing external rewards might not be the most beneficial approach for fostering long-term engagement. Understanding this effect can inform strategies in education, parenting, and management to better support genuine interest and drive.