What is a characteristic of extrinsic motivation?

Extrinsic motivation is primarily driven by external factors rather than internal ones. This type of motivation relies on outside rewards or pressures, such as praise, money, recognition, or any form of incentive that comes from outside oneself. Individuals might engage in certain behaviors or activities to gain these external rewards or to avoid negative consequences.

For instance, a woman might push herself to attend a fitness class not because it brings her internal joy or satisfaction but because she wants to lose weight as per societal expectations, is incentivized by a friend's encouragement, or aims for a prize associated with completing a challenge. This illustrates how extrinsic motivation works through external influences.

In contrast, intrinsic motivation is characterized by personal satisfaction and fulfillment derived from the activity itself. While deep personal satisfaction and sustained motivation can sometimes develop from external incentives over time, they are not the defining attributes of extrinsic motivation. Therefore, the understanding that extrinsic motivation is fundamentally about reliance on external sources clarifies its nature and how it operates in different contexts.