Intrinsic and extrinsic types of motivation have been
widely studied, and the distinction between them has
shed important light on both developmental and
educational practices. In this review we revisit the
classic definitions of intrinsic and extrinsic
motivation in light of contemporary research and theory.
Intrinsic motivation remains an important construct,
reflecting the natural human propensity to learn and
assimilate. However, extrinsic motivation is argued to
vary considerably in its relative autonomy and thus can
either reflect external control or true self-regulation.
The relations of both classes of motives to basic human
needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness are
discussed. pdf