How Do I Select Rewards? – Part 6 - Rewards for activities children already do, may actually decrease their natural motivation to do those activities

6. Rewards for activities children already do, may actually decrease their natural motivation to do those activities.

This too sounds counterintuitive, but it is important to understand in choosing rewards.  In a study with young children they were given rewards to play with toys they clearly enjoyed.  Later when the reward system was stopped and the children were again permitted to play freely, the researchers observed that children played with their previously favorite toys less and instead chose new toys.

In essence these children lost their internal motivation to play with the toys when the external reward was given.

How does this apply?  Imagine that I decided that since Butch and Sam don’t make their beds in the morning I would offer a reward to them. However, Jane makes her bed every day without any prompting. However, I offer all three of them the same reward to make their beds. I am pleased when all three beds are made the next day. I am even more pleased when after a week we have had almost perfect bed-making.

Now unbeknown to me Jane used to make her bed because it was fun for her. She enjoyed seeing the finished bed and particularly enjoyed putting her doll on the pillow where she imagined the doll would think of her while she was at school. Now that she is getting a reward, the internal reward has decreased and the reward I am offering is more important.  If for some reason I stop the reward system I will expect Butch and Sam to stop making their beds, but will be surprised when Jane stops. The reason is that Jane is now responding to the external reward rather than the internal reward.

It is not wrong to offer rewards for activities children already enjoy doing.  In the example above, it was important to do it to treat all three children alike.  However, in choosing rewards I should consider this principle.