Patrick ate a large breakfast. When he arrived for his 8:00 a.m. class, the student next to him offered Patrick a large raisin muffin. Even though Patrick was still quite full from breakfast, he ate the muffin that he was offered. Which of the following theories of motivation best explains Patrick's behaviour in this instance?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The incentive theory of motivation suggests that behavior is driven by the desire to attain rewards and avoid punishment. In this scenario, the offer of the raisin muffin can be seen as an incentive that motivated Patrick to eat it, despite already being full from breakfast.

Patrick Ate a Large Breakfast