Intrinsic Task Motivation

Although the two skill components determine what a person is capable of doing in a given domain, it is the task motivation component that determines what that person actually will do. Motivation can be either intrinsic (driven by deep interest and involvement in the work, by curiosity, enjoyment, or a per- sonal sense of challenge) or extrinsic (driven by the desire to attain some goal that is apart from the work itself —such as achieving a promised reward or meeting a deadline or winning a competition). Although combinations of intrin- sic and extrinsic motivation are common, one is likely to be primary for a given person doing a given task. A number of studies have shown that a primarily intrinsic motivation will be more conducive to creativity than a primarily extrin- sic motivation.