Which statement accurately describes extrinsic motivation?

• A. It arises from internal satisfaction and curiosity
• B. It involves external rewards such as points, candy, compliments, money, test scores, grades
• C. It cannot be useful in classroom settings
• D. It leads to lasting intrinsic interest

Answer: (B)

Extrinsic motivation is motivation driven by rewards or outcomes that come from outside the individual, rather than from inner curiosity or personal satisfaction. The statement describing external rewards such as points, candy, compliments, money, test scores, and grades captures this idea, because those incentives are external to the learner and linked to performance or behavior. In contrast, motivation rooted in internal satisfaction and curiosity describes intrinsic motivation. In classroom settings, extrinsic motivation can be useful to promote participation and persistence, especially with new or difficult tasks, but it doesn’t automatically build lasting intrinsic interest, and overreliance on external rewards can sometimes diminish intrinsic motivation over time.