Incentivation to Motivation

Incentives can, however, lead to motivation when rewards are overtaken by higher goals or causes. For example, you take part in a science competition because there is a prize to be won. But as you work on your science project, you find it really interesting. You then put your heart and soul into doing the project well. You no longer work for the prize or other incentives. You do it for the satisfaction or higher goals. Thus, you have become motivated.

Take another example. Let’s say you have a crush on a teacher, so you study hard to try and impress him or her. As you study hard, you begin to feel the benefits. You understand the subject better; you are able to discuss it intelligently; you feel more confident when you sit for the examinations; you achieve good grades, etc.

The following year, you are no longer taught by the same teacher, or you have grown out of your crush and you no longer feel any need to impress him or her. The incentive is gone. Yet, you continue to study hard. Now you are doing it for yourself. Your academic performance has become your higher cause. You have become motivated.

In some cases, disincentives can lead to motivation as well. This happens when children are “forced” — by the threat of punishment, which serves as a disincentive — to take up music, ballet and other lessons. They may resent it initially, but they later grow to love the subject. But things could also turn out the other way. The child may end up hating the subject forever. There is no guarantee that incentives — or disincentives — will always produce the desired results.
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