Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation

I feel that the type of motivation predominantly used in Singapore is extrinsic. Just by looking at the educational system in Singapore, one is immediately able to tell that how much emphasis is put on grades and results of studies. Majority of the students do not do well in their studies to learn new things or broaden their general knowledge but rather, they study and do well just for the sake of getting good grades to move on to a higher level and attain high-level certificates to be rewarded by parents or teachers or to get a good job. The intrinsic motivation for studying is to broaden one's perspectives, develop an interest in what you are doing and enjoy it. Yet, students nowadays study only to receive extrinsic awards or because they are forced to.

Even in the workplace, extrinsic motivation is prevalent. This can be clearly seen from why most people even go to work. Adults work to earn money because they have to provide for themselves and their families. How many actually go to work because of the pleasure of enjoying what they do? Well, there are, but very few. People are very often pushed to do things because of the extrinsic rewards. People thus lose their very purpose of why they are even what they are doing in the first place. However, many a time people are highly motivated by extrinsic and intrinsic rewards depending on the nature of their purpose.

By continuing with extrinsic motivation, Singapore can continue to prosper in terms of its economy as well as its capability of producing elite students. Such a mode of motivation can sometimes actually bring out the best in people when these people are blinded by the extrinsic rewards, thus they aim to do well. However, it may also be both intrinsic and extrinsic for some people. Such people love what they do and are intrinsically motivated but they feel happier when they can also be rewarded extrinsically but nonetheless do not feel sore when there are no such rewards. Hence, I feel that using extrinsic motivation should be slowly lowered as too much use of it will make people lose their roots of their purpose in what they do but yet a certain amount might be sufficient to push people to work and make the society a better place to live in.

In response to ECY's view, I agree with her that too much of extrinsic motivation will make this society uncaring and materialistic and result in a divided Singapore, therefore I feel that Singapore should start to not be motivated by extrinsic rewards but rather based on intrinsic rewards which will make this society more humane to live in.