Title: The Incentive Theory of Motivation
Headings: The Incentive Theory of Motivation
The Incentive Theory of Motivation
History of the Incentive Theory
How Does Incentive Theory Work?
Why Some Incentives Are More Motivating Than Others
A Word From Verywell

Content: The Incentive Theory of Motivation
Theories
The Incentive Theory of Motivation
By
Kendra Cherry
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Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial process
Kendra Cherry
Reviewed by
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW on February 24, 2020
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Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, the author of the bestselling book "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," and the host of The Verywell Mind Podcast. Learn about our Review Board
Amy Morin, LCSW
Updated on March 04, 2020
What forces are behind your actions? Do you get up and head to the gym each day because you know it's good for you, or is it because of some type of external reward? There are many different reasons why people do things. Sometimes people are motivated to act because of internal desires and wishes, but at other times, behaviors are driven by a desire for external rewards. According to one theory of human motivation, actions are often inspired by a desire to gain outside reinforcement. The incentive theory is one of the major theories of motivation and suggests that behavior is motivated by a desire for reinforcement or incentives. Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell
History of the Incentive Theory
Incentive theory began to emerge during the 1940s and 1950s, building on the earlier drive theories established by psychologists such as Clark Hull.