<p><strong>Intrinsic</strong> Rewards (motivation)
These are rewards which are directly of value to the person, rather being something that represents (or could be "traded in") for something to of value.</p>

<p>So getting a badge in and of itself isn't an Intrinsic Reward, but up votes on an answer would be b/c it converts Status and Validation of the user's work.
These rewards are also intrinsic to the task. They have not been "bolted on" or "dangled like a carrot" in front of the user.</p>

<p><strong>Extrinsic</strong> Rewards (or incentives) are rewards which  are not naturally a part of the task.
So if you enjoy drawing and I compliment you on the drawing that's intrinsica. If I offer to pay you to draw more, that's extrinsic. </p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lALfR.jpg" alt="enter image description here">
from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/playfulwingmen/gamification-extrinsic-vs-intrinsic-rewards-17681228" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this slideshow</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Extrinsic Incentives are demotivating and, thus, should be avoided in Gamifying a system</strong>
There is a lot of <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B004MYFLDG" rel="nofollow noreferrer">research</a> that shows that Extrinsic Rewards are demotivating because:
They extinguish internal motivation</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Result in Habituation, requiring higher levels of the External reward
to achieve the same effects.</p></li>
<li><p>Send a message that you think they should not want to do this (why
else would you need to bribe them)</p></li>
<li><p>Seem manipulative</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Therefore, Extrinsic Rewards should be avoided.
And if you find that your "players" are focused more on the <em>game mechanics</em> than the work then that's a clue that your game mechanics may be offering extrinsic motivation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-03T15:50:59.443Z
@user221287, that's one of the best very simple explanations of intrinsic rewards but I'm wondering if it's a bit too simple. Can you provide any references or further explanation of that?
Clay Nichols
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-03T15:51:29.603Z
Also, anyone who upvoted this answer, please consider upvoting the question. It got downvoted and voted to close, with no explanation.
Clay Nichols
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-14T14:57:57.247Z
@what I find this very confusing too
o0'.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-01T19:37:30.627Z
2013-11-01T19:50:06.337Z
Clay Nichols
<p>I feel that there is a misnomer here... a reward is a reward.<br>
There are Intrinsic and Extrinsic <strong><em>Motivators</em></strong>.</p>

<p><strong>Intrinsic</strong> - The feel good motivation you get from within for accomplishing of completing a task. Because it felt good, you want to do more. This could be classified as a <em>reward</em>, but generally speaking an emotional response isn't necessarily a reward. Generally in Gamification a reward is a tangible or virtual gift given to the user for completing a task - an extrinsic component.</p>

<p><strong>Extrinsic</strong> - An enticing benefit will be earned/granted if you complete the challenge/task so you follow through to completion to earn the gift. Extrinsic motivators <em>are</em> rewards. One is coaxed into finishing the task because of the reward, not the good feeling of accomplishment.</p>

<p>At the risk of pulling users away from this site, and plopping them down at the newly launched <strong><a href="http://gamification.stackexchange.com">Gamification site</a></strong>, I thought I may post these questions here that directly relate to your question:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://gamification.stackexchange.com/questions/27/how-do-you-balance-intrinsic-and-extrinsic-motivators">How do you balance Intrinsic and Extrinsic motivators</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gamification.stackexchange.com/questions/141/are-imaginary-internet-points-enough/">Are Imaginary Internet Points enough?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gamification.stackexchange.com/questions/75/how-do-you-reward-a-mentoring-activity">How do you reward a mentoring activity?</a></li>
</ul>

<p>I will reuse what I posted on the Gamification site for this answer as it applies here as well. There is a great Ted talk on the "<a href="http://gamification.stackexchange.com">Puzzle of Motivation</a>" by Dan Pink is available. It is a short talk, but it discusses this exact topic. I think you will find it enlightening.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Career analyst <strong>Dan Pink</strong> examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories — and maybe, a way forward. </p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-26T05:03:04.277Z
2015-04-26T05:03:04.277Z
Phlume
<p>This discussion of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation#Intrinsic_and_extrinsic_motivation" rel="nofollow">intrinsic and extrinsic motivation</a> covers most of what you are after.</p>

<p>A reward is intrinsic to an activity if it comes from doing the task itself. A reward is extrinsic if otherwise. The classic extrinsic reward is money. Classic intrinsic rewards are challenge and stimulation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-10T03:22:08.663Z
2013-11-10T03:22:08.663Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p>What is the definition  of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards?</p>

<p>Why are they important to, and what is their role in, gamification?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-03T15:49:26.030Z
Please explain the downvote and votes to close.
Clay Nichols
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-04T16:28:39.860Z
This site was designed to solve the type of intriguing problems you might encounter in your day-to-day work, but unfortunately we're [not seeing a lot of that here](http://meta.gamification.stackexchange.com/q/72). The close votes are likely from folks who feel you can simply look up those terms in a [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation#Intrinsic_and_extrinsic_motivation), or ask about what aspect of the concepts you are having trouble understanding. With that in mind, asking simply "what is {x}?" starts to seem more like homework than Q&A. Sorry about the confusion.
Robert Cartaino
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-05T03:07:31.720Z
@RobertCartaino, I created this question b/c a lot of questions are demonstrating ignorance of the importance of Intrinsic Rewards *specifically in gamification*.

BTW, I have also followed the meta thread on the need for more real world questions. Hoping to help with that.
Clay Nichols
<motivation><gamification>
What is the difference between (and importance of) extrinsic vs. intrinsic rewards in gamification?
Clay Nichols
# What is the difference between (and importance of) extrinsic vs. intrinsic rewards in gamification?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-11-01)

What is the definition of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards?

Why are they important to, and what is their role in, gamification?

**Tags:** motivation, gamification

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Please explain the downvote and votes to close.  
> **username_1**: This site was designed to solve the type of intriguing problems you might encounter in your day-to-day work, but unfortunately we're [not seeing a lot of that here](http://meta.gamification.stackexchange.com/q/72). The close votes are likely from folks who feel you can simply look up those terms in a [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation#Intrinsic_and_extrinsic_motivation), or ask about what aspect of the concepts you are having trouble understanding. With that in mind, asking simply "what is {x}?" starts to seem more like homework than Q&A. Sorry about the confusion.  
> **username_0**: @RobertCartaino, I created this question b/c a lot of questions are demonstrating ignorance of the importance of Intrinsic Rewards *specifically in gamification*.  BTW, I have also followed the meta thread on the need for more real world questions. Hoping to help with that.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2013-11-01. Score: 3

**Intrinsic** Rewards (motivation)
These are rewards which are directly of value to the person, rather being something that represents (or could be "traded in") for something to of value.

So getting a badge in and of itself isn't an Intrinsic Reward, but up votes on an answer would be b/c it converts Status and Validation of the user's work.
These rewards are also intrinsic to the task. They have not been "bolted on" or "dangled like a carrot" in front of the user.

**Extrinsic** Rewards (or incentives) are rewards which are not naturally a part of the task.
So if you enjoy drawing and I compliment you on the drawing that's intrinsica. If I offer to pay you to draw more, that's extrinsic.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/lALfR.jpg)
from [this slideshow](http://www.slideshare.net/playfulwingmen/gamification-extrinsic-vs-intrinsic-rewards-17681228).

**Extrinsic Incentives are demotivating and, thus, should be avoided in Gamifying a system**
There is a lot of [research](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B004MYFLDG) that shows that Extrinsic Rewards are demotivating because:
They extinguish internal motivation

* Result in Habituation, requiring higher levels of the External reward
  to achieve the same effects.
* Send a message that you think they should not want to do this (why
  else would you need to bribe them)
* Seem manipulative

Therefore, Extrinsic Rewards should be avoided.
And if you find that your "players" are focused more on the *game mechanics* than the work then that's a clue that your game mechanics may be offering extrinsic motivation.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @user221287, that's one of the best very simple explanations of intrinsic rewards but I'm wondering if it's a bit too simple. Can you provide any references or further explanation of that?  
> **username_0**: Also, anyone who upvoted this answer, please consider upvoting the question. It got downvoted and voted to close, with no explanation.  
> **username_2**: @what I find this very confusing too  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-04-26. Score: 2

I feel that there is a misnomer here... a reward is a reward.  
There are Intrinsic and Extrinsic ***Motivators***.

**Intrinsic** - The feel good motivation you get from within for accomplishing of completing a task. Because it felt good, you want to do more. This could be classified as a *reward*, but generally speaking an emotional response isn't necessarily a reward. Generally in Gamification a reward is a tangible or virtual gift given to the user for completing a task - an extrinsic component.

**Extrinsic** - An enticing benefit will be earned/granted if you complete the challenge/task so you follow through to completion to earn the gift. Extrinsic motivators *are* rewards. One is coaxed into finishing the task because of the reward, not the good feeling of accomplishment.

At the risk of pulling users away from this site, and plopping them down at the newly launched **[Gamification site](http://gamification.stackexchange.com)**, I thought I may post these questions here that directly relate to your question:

* [How do you balance Intrinsic and Extrinsic motivators](http://gamification.stackexchange.com/questions/27/how-do-you-balance-intrinsic-and-extrinsic-motivators)
* [Are Imaginary Internet Points enough?](http://gamification.stackexchange.com/questions/141/are-imaginary-internet-points-enough/)
* [How do you reward a mentoring activity?](http://gamification.stackexchange.com/questions/75/how-do-you-reward-a-mentoring-activity)

I will reuse what I posted on the Gamification site for this answer as it applies here as well. There is a great Ted talk on the "[Puzzle of Motivation](http://gamification.stackexchange.com)" by Dan Pink is available. It is a short talk, but it discusses this exact topic. I think you will find it enlightening.

> Career analyst **Dan Pink** examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories — and maybe, a way forward.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-11-10. Score: 1

This discussion of [intrinsic and extrinsic motivation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation#Intrinsic_and_extrinsic_motivation) covers most of what you are after.

A reward is intrinsic to an activity if it comes from doing the task itself. A reward is extrinsic if otherwise. The classic extrinsic reward is money. Classic intrinsic rewards are challenge and stimulation.


---

