Alicia really likes to play the piano. Her parents decided to support this activity by paying her $20 every time she went to piano practice. Lately, Alicia has found that she does not enjoy playing piano as much any more. This change in Alicia's feelings could be explained by

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The overjustification hypothesis suggests that if a person is given external rewards for an activity they already find intrinsically rewarding, their intrinsic motivation for that activity can decrease. In Alicia's case, the payment for practicing piano, an activity she initially enjoyed for its own sake, could have led her to value the activity less for the joy it brings and more for the external reward, thus reducing her enjoyment.

Alicia Really Likes to Play the Piano