Chuck's parents want him to learn to enjoy reading. Many psychologists would advise them not to pay him large rewards for reading. Why?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The overjustification effect refers to the phenomenon where offering extrinsic rewards for doing something that was previously intrinsically rewarding can actually decrease the person's overall motivation or enjoyment of the activity. This is because the person begins to associate the task with the external reward rather than the inherent pleasure or satisfaction of the activity itself. So, in the case of Chuck, if his parents were to offer him large rewards for reading, he may begin to view reading as a task solely to be completed for the reward, rather than something he would do for pleasure or enjoyment.

Chuck's Parents Want Him to Learn to Enjoy Reading