Allison's parents are so happy that she enjoys reading. They decide to encourage her to keep at it by paying her $5 for each book she reads. According to the overjustification effect, how will Allison react to this new reward system?
A) She will enjoy reading even more.
B) She will become less interested in reading.
C) She will be more selective in which books she reads.
D) Her attitude toward reading will remain the same.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the overjustification effect, offering external rewards for something a person already enjoys doing can actually decrease their intrinsic motivation and interest in the activity. In this case, Allison may start to view reading as a chore that she is only doing for the money rather than for the enjoyment of the activity itself. Therefore, she may become less interested in reading.

Allison's Parents Are So Happy That She Enjoys Reading