Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic

Just going through my English Companion's Tweets (http://twitter.com/ecning) and found a cool website called The Daily Riff (http://www.thedailyriff.com/) - lots of education information. One of the articles that caught my eye was about a book by Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind, and his new book, Drive.( http://www.thedailyriff.com/2010/04/the-real-missing-link-in-education-motivation.php) The book is about intrinsic motivation vs. extrinsic. There is a link to an excerpt of the first chapter (maybe the intro, can't remember) in the article. It appears to be an excellent book, one I am going to buy. What really got me thinking as I was reading the excerpt, was 1) how can I be a better teacher by using intrinsic motivation, and 2) Wow! I think that is the way Heavenly Father works!

As I was reading, I realized that most of the gospel plan entails intrinsic motivation. Do we have external rewards for attending church, the temple, paying tithing, living the word of wisdom, etc. ...well, to a degree, but I think they are by-products of these activities, and not "rewards" per se. If we are able to get to the point that we recognize the intense satisfaction of doing good for doing good's sake, we have almost mastered our mortal body!

All through my university training, the debate raged concerning intrinsic and extrinsic--there were also those deriders who claimed that the church, society, our culture, etc. were actually inhibiting our basic human needs and rights, (the natural man?), there were even times when I questioned my motives for attending church, obeying traffic laws, and obeying societal laws. Reading this excerpt has made me stop and realize that I am not happy unless I am doing what I know to be right. There is nothing external in that motivation.

We are so blessed to have a loving Heavenly Father who allows us to find our own way--one of mankind's basic requisites. In the excerpt, Pink states: Human beings, Deci said, have an “inherent tendency to seek out novelty and challenges, to extend and exercise their capacities, to explore, and to learn.” Pink quotes Deci as saying "Rewards can deliver a short- term boost— just as a jolt of caffeine can keep you cranking for a few more hours. But the effect wears off— and, worse, can reduce a person’s longer-term motivation to continue the project."

I'm anxious to read both of these books--but I feel as though I've had an epiphany! If I can learn to teach so as to allow my students to become intrinsically motivated, and if I can live my life to ensure I am intrinsically motivated, then I've won half the battle!

(OK, enough soap-box...)