Context: Kids playing street hockey in front of an elderly man's house.
Problem: Kids frequently trampling the man's lawn while retrieving the ball.
Solution by Elderly Man:
Decides to pay kids $1 each to play, making them feel like "professional athletes."
Kids excited, continue playing, and receive payment.
After a week, reduces payment to 50 cents due to cost.
Eventually reduces it to a quarter.
Kids decide it's not worth it and stop playing.
Main Concept: Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation
Extrinsic Rewards:
Payment (dollars, then reduced to quarters) was an extrinsic motivator.
Initially excited kids, but diminished intrinsic enjoyment over time.
Resulted in kids quitting when rewards decreased.
Theoretical Insight
Alfie Cohn's Perspective:
Rewards can be as controlling as punishments.
Control through seduction, leading to a potential punitive feel over time.
Pleasurable reward experiences can lead to negative impacts long-term.
Implications for Practice
Use of Extrinsic Rewards:
Consider the long-term effect on intrinsic motivation.
Use extrinsic rewards strategically and sparingly.
Important to balance and thoughtfully determine the frequency of reward use.
Summary
Main Takeaway: Over-reliance on extrinsic rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation, leading to disengagement when rewards diminish. Understanding the implications of using incentives is crucial for maintaining motivation.