DMCA
Detrimental effects of reward: reality or myth (1996)
| Venue: | American Psychologist |
| Citations: | 142 - 1 self |
BibTeX
@ARTICLE{Eisenberger96detrimentaleffects,
author = {Robert Eisenberger and Judy Cameron},
title = {Detrimental effects of reward: reality or myth},
journal = {American Psychologist},
year = {1996}
}
Share
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
OpenURL
Abstract
Based on seemingly overwhelming empirical evidence of the decremental effects of reward on intrinsic task interest and creativity, the use of reward to alter human behavior has been challenged in literature reviews, textbooks, and the popular media. An analysis of a quarter century of research on intrinsic task interest and creativity revealed, however, that (a) detrimental effects of reward occur under highly restricted, easily avoidable conditions, " (b) mechanisms of instrumental and classical conditioning are basic for understanding incremental and decremental effects of reward on task motivation; and (c) positive effects of reward on generalized creativity are easily attainable using procedures derived from behavior theory. O bservers of American culture have long noted a I strong emphasis on individualistic values, including taking responsibility for one's own actions, pursuing personal interests, and exploring one's creative potential (e.g., Badia, 1990; Huber, 1971; Tocqueville, 1840/1990). Consistent with the common presumption that individuals function most effectively and happily when they are guiding their own behavior (see Geller, 1982; Hogan, 1975), an increasingly dominant view has developed over the past quarter century contending that the strengthening of performance by reward (reinforcement) causes the unpleasant experience of being controlled by others and reduces task interest and creativity. Based on seemingly overwhelming empirical evidence of such effects, the value of using reward to alter human behavior has been challenged in literature reviews, textbooks, and the popular media. Conventional View The following sentiments are characteristic of a diverse and growing literature claiming that reward inherently reduces task interest and creativity. According to an article published in the American Psychologist, "reinforcement has two effects. First, predictably, it gains control of [an] activity, increasing its frequency. Second.... when reinforcement is later withdrawn, people engage in the activity even less than they did before reinforcement was introduced " (Schwartz, 1990, p. 10). A widely cited literature review that appeared in the premier social psychology
Keyphrases
detrimental effect literature review intrinsic task interest overwhelming empirical evidence popular medium human behavior decremental effect quarter century reward occur gain control premier social psychology following sentiment generalized creativity conventional view common presumption positive effect american psychologist avoidable condition individualistic value dominant view creative potential unpleasant experience task motivation task interest past quarter century american culture strong emphasis classical conditioning personal interest behavior theory
