Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryHow It WorksExamplesChallengesComparisonHow to Use
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
History
How It Works
Examples
Challenges
Comparison
How to Use
Close
History of Incentive Theory
In the late 1950s, Frederick Herzberg expanded this ideology even more, creating what is known as the two-factor incentive theory. This theory is based on a study that Herzberg conducted on employees to learn what contributed to or took away from their feelings of job satisfaction.
This study involved asking employees what made them feel good about their job and what made them feel bad. Based on their answers, Herzberg proposed that job satisfaction was based on two factors:
How Incentive Theory Works
Incentive theory can be likened tooperant conditioning, where behaviors are performed to either gain reinforcement or avoid punishment.
What type of rewards might we want to gain? Good grades are an incentive that can motivate students to study hard and do well in school. Gaining esteem and accolades from teachers and parents might be another. Money is also an excellent example of an external reward that motivates behavior.
Rewards must be obtainable in order to be motivating. For example, a student will not be motivated to earn a top grade on an exam if the assignment is so difficult that it is not realistically achievable. Rewards must also be important or they won’t be powerful enough to spur a person into action.
In many cases, external rewards can motivate you to do things that you might otherwise avoid, such as chores, work, and other tasks you find unpleasant. They can also be used to get you to stop performing certain actions, such asquitting smokingto prevent the negative consequence of developing lung cancer.
Types of Incentives
In psychology, an incentive is defined as “an external stimulus, such as a condition or an object, that enhances or serves as a motive for behavior.“Incentive theory includes two different types of incentives:
Examples of Incentive Theory
Challenges of Incentive Theory
Not all incentives are created equal, and the rewards that you find motivating might not be enough to inspire another person to take action. Physiological, social, and cognitive factors can all play a role in what incentives you find motivating.
Incentives can also change depending on the situation. InPsychology: A Discovery Experience,author Stephen L. Franzoi gives an example: “When you are home, your parents' praise may be a positive incentive. However, when your friends visit, you may go out of your way to avoid receiving parental praise, because your friends may tease you.”
Two people may act differently in the same situation based on the type of incentives that are appealing to them at that time.
Incentive Theory vs. Other Motivational Theories
Incentive theory is just one of several theories of motivation. Other motivational theories include:
How to Use Incentive Theory to Improve Motivation
Setting up your own incentives can increase your motivation toreach your desired goals. Here are a few tips to do this effectively:
A Word From Verywell
Consider what motivates you as you work on your goals. Are you trying to gain an incentive or do you want to avoid a negative consequence? Understanding the forces behind your actions can help you determine how to best motivate yourself to reach your specific goals.
5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sundberg ML.Thirty points about motivation from Skinner’s bookVerbal Behavior.Anal Verbal Behav. 2013;29(1):13-40. doi:10.1007/bf03393120Heckhausen J, Heckhausen H (Eds).Motivation and Action, Third Edition.Syptak JM, Marsland DW, Ulmer D.Job satisfaction: Putting theory into practice.Fam Pract Manag. 1999;6(9):26-30.American Psychological Association.Incentive.Franzoi SL.Psychology: A discovery experience.Additional ReadingBernstein DA.Essentials of psychology.Silverman K, Jarvis BP, Jessel J, Lopez AA.Incentives and motivation.Transl Issues Psychol Sci. 2016;2(2):97-100. doi:10.1037/tps0000073Wong L.Essential study skills.
5 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sundberg ML.Thirty points about motivation from Skinner’s bookVerbal Behavior.Anal Verbal Behav. 2013;29(1):13-40. doi:10.1007/bf03393120Heckhausen J, Heckhausen H (Eds).Motivation and Action, Third Edition.Syptak JM, Marsland DW, Ulmer D.Job satisfaction: Putting theory into practice.Fam Pract Manag. 1999;6(9):26-30.American Psychological Association.Incentive.Franzoi SL.Psychology: A discovery experience.Additional ReadingBernstein DA.Essentials of psychology.Silverman K, Jarvis BP, Jessel J, Lopez AA.Incentives and motivation.Transl Issues Psychol Sci. 2016;2(2):97-100. doi:10.1037/tps0000073Wong L.Essential study skills.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sundberg ML.Thirty points about motivation from Skinner’s bookVerbal Behavior.Anal Verbal Behav. 2013;29(1):13-40. doi:10.1007/bf03393120Heckhausen J, Heckhausen H (Eds).Motivation and Action, Third Edition.Syptak JM, Marsland DW, Ulmer D.Job satisfaction: Putting theory into practice.Fam Pract Manag. 1999;6(9):26-30.American Psychological Association.Incentive.Franzoi SL.Psychology: A discovery experience.
Sundberg ML.Thirty points about motivation from Skinner’s bookVerbal Behavior.Anal Verbal Behav. 2013;29(1):13-40. doi:10.1007/bf03393120
Heckhausen J, Heckhausen H (Eds).Motivation and Action, Third Edition.
Syptak JM, Marsland DW, Ulmer D.Job satisfaction: Putting theory into practice.Fam Pract Manag. 1999;6(9):26-30.
American Psychological Association.Incentive.
Franzoi SL.Psychology: A discovery experience.
Bernstein DA.Essentials of psychology.Silverman K, Jarvis BP, Jessel J, Lopez AA.Incentives and motivation.Transl Issues Psychol Sci. 2016;2(2):97-100. doi:10.1037/tps0000073Wong L.Essential study skills.
Bernstein DA.Essentials of psychology.
Silverman K, Jarvis BP, Jessel J, Lopez AA.Incentives and motivation.Transl Issues Psychol Sci. 2016;2(2):97-100. doi:10.1037/tps0000073
Wong L.Essential study skills.
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