Which statement best contrasts intrinsic and extrinsic motivation?

• A. Intrinsic Comes From Within; Extrinsic From External Rewards; Balance To Avoid Undermining Intrinsic Motivation
• B. Intrinsic Is Monetary; Extrinsic Is Praise
• C. Intrinsic Is External Feedback; Extrinsic Is Internal Satisfaction
• D. Intrinsic Is External Pressure; Extrinsic Is Personal Interest

Answer: (A)

Intrinsic motivation comes from within—the activity itself is rewarding, aligned with personal interest, enjoyment, or a sense of meaning. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is driven by external rewards or pressures like money, praise, or grades. The strongest contrast statement ties these origins together and adds a practical caveat: using external rewards should be balanced so you don’t undermine intrinsic motivation. When people are engaged because they find the task interesting or worthwhile, they tend to persist and perform well. But offering external rewards for something someone already finds enjoyable can shift their focus to the reward and erode their intrinsic interest, a phenomenon known as the overjustification effect. Used thoughtfully—rewarding effort, providing meaningful feedback, or supporting autonomy—external incentives can complement intrinsic motivation rather than replace it. The other descriptions blur where motivation comes from or mislabel what counts as intrinsic versus extrinsic, so they don’t capture this essential distinction.