Which statement best differentiates intrinsic motivation from extrinsic motivation?

Which statement best differentiates intrinsic motivation from extrinsic motivation?

• A. Extrinsic motivation is the inner drive to perform for personal satisfaction.
• B. Intrinsic motivation is fueled by external rewards.
• C. Intrinsic motivation is the internal drive to do something for its own sake.
• D. Extrinsic motivation cannot be influenced by goals.

Answer: (C)

Intrinsic motivation comes from inside you; you engage in the activity because you enjoy it, find it interesting, or want personal growth. This inner drive means you do the task for its own sake, not for external rewards. The statement that describes intrinsic motivation as the internal drive to do something for its own sake matches this idea exactly, so it’s the best choice. The other ideas mix up where motivation comes from or mislabel external influences: intrinsic motivation isn’t fuelled by external rewards, and extrinsic motivation involves external rewards, praise, or pressures. Goals can influence extrinsic motivation, which is why that point is not a correct description of intrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic motivation comes from inside you; you engage in the activity because you enjoy it, find it interesting, or want personal growth. This inner drive means you do the task for its own sake, not for external rewards. The statement that describes intrinsic motivation as the internal drive to do something for its own sake matches this idea exactly, so it’s the best choice. The other ideas mix up where motivation comes from or mislabel external influences: intrinsic motivation isn’t fuelled by external rewards, and extrinsic motivation involves external rewards, praise, or pressures. Goals can influence extrinsic motivation, which is why that point is not a correct description of intrinsic motivation.