#overjustification effect

[principleofplenitude]

[dreamyeyedrose]

hey guys! this is an actual thing that happens! it’s called the over justification effect, and it states that whenever you intrinsically want to do something and someone else gives you incentive to do it, either by telling you or bribing you, you’re far less likely to do the thing. we aren’t really quite sure exactly why yet, but a common theory is that it causes a dilemma for us: “are we doing the thing because we want to or because someone else wants us to?” (for example: “am I practising my violin because I love it or because my parent’s giving me $5 for an hour of practice?”)and we as humans don’t like thinking about that so we often just….don’t…..do the thing so we don’t have to think about it. if you’re trying to get someone to do something like this, a good idea is to ask them what their plan for that day is. if they don’t mention it, then maybe you can be like “well hey if you have time, maybe also do this?” and if they do mention the thing then just nod approvingly.

[fritfilter]

Self-perception theory says you observe your own behavior and then, after the fact, make up a story to explain it. That story is sometimes close to the truth, and sometimes it is just something nice that makes you feel better about being a person...... If you pay people to complete puzzles instead of paying them for being smart, they lose interest in the game. If you pay children to draw, fun becomes work. Payment on top of compliments and other praise and feeling good about personal achievement are powerful motivators, but only if they are unexpected. Only then can you continue to tell the story that keeps you going; only then can you still explain your motivation as coming from within. Consider the story you tell yourself about why you do what you do for a living. How vulnerable is that tale to these effects?

[bitesizedpsych-blog]

The Overjustification Effect

is the tendency to explain behaviour with external rather than intrinsic motivators. The Overjustification Effect is most commonly seen when being paid for a passion tends to eclipse and replace the interest and enjoyment in the activity itself. For example, children played a game they initially enjoyed. Shortly afterwards, they were paid to play the game. After the payment stopped, the children lost interest in the game. The payment substituted their own enjoyment of the game.