Pervasive negative effects of rewards on intrinsic motivation: the myth continues

rewards for low-interest tasks enhance free-choice intrinsic motivation; on high-interest tasks, negative effects when rewards are tangible, expected and loosely tied to level of performance; performance-linked rewards increase or do not change intrinsic motivation.

Written from the abstract read 2026-10-14.

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doi:10.1007/BF03392017. Abstract read: rewards for low-interest tasks enhance free-choice intrinsic motivation; on high-interest tasks, negative effects when rewards are tangible, expected and loosely tied to level of performance; performance-linked rewards increase or do not change intrinsic motivation.