Reward, distraction, and the overjustification effect.

A number of experiments have recently demonstrated that extrinsic constraints and rewards can produce lower levels of intrinsic interest in subsequent freechoice situations. This effect has been considered to be the result of a shift in the self-perceived locus of motivation from intrinsic to extrinsic but has also been explained as resulting from the distracting qualities of reward procedures. The latter hypothesis implies that reward and nonreward distractors will produce decreases in intrinsic interest and that these decreases will dissipate over multiple-trial procedures as a result of adaptation. On the other hand, the attribution explanation predicts that rewards or other extrinsic constraints will produce decreases in interest that are stable or strengthened over time. The experiment involved manipulation of three levels of the reward/distraction variable (reward, nonreward distraction, and a nonreward-no-distraction control) crossed with three levels of initial trial participation (10, 25, or SO trials). The results indicated that rewards produced a constant decrease in interest over trials, consistent with the attribution explanation. While there was some evidence for a temporary disruption in intrinsic interest due to nonreward distraction, no support was obtained for a distraction interpretation of the effects of rewards on free-choice behavior. The effects of tangible reinforcers on intrinsic motivation have been the subject of much recent research. A number of investigators (e.g., Deci, 1971; Lepper, Greene, & Nisbett, 1973) have demonstrated that individuals participating in initially interesting activities (e.g., solving puzzles, drawing pictures) for tangible rewards (e.g., money, goodplayer awards) show less subsequent interest in those activities in free-choice situations than do unrewarded controls. The introduction of extrinsic reward consistently lowers the individual's initial level of intrinsic interest. It has been suggested that this overjustification effect is caused by a change in This article is based on an honors thesis submitted to Gettysburg College by the first author, under the supervision of the second author. The authors thank Lewis B. Frank, who served as a second advisor and assisted in the preparation of the manuscript, and Paul R. D'Agostino for his comments on the manuscript.