An example of the overjustification effect in the text describes how the number of books Myers' son read _____ after the local library provided an incentive for children to read 10 books in three months.
A) increased slightly
B) doubled
C) decreased
D) stabilized

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The overjustification effect suggests that providing external rewards (such as incentives or prizes) for activities that are already intrinsically rewarding (such as reading for pleasure) can actually decrease motivation and interest in that activity. In the example provided, the local library provided an incentive for children to read 10 books in three months. Prior to the incentive, Myers' son was already an avid reader, but after the incentive, his reading "fell off sharply" indicating a decrease in his motivation to read for pleasure. Therefore, the best choice is C, decreased.

An Example of the Overjustification Effect in the Text Describes