Understanding Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation

In understanding what drives human behavior, motivation is often classified into two types: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal drive to perform an activity for its own sake, such as doing a puzzle because you enjoy it. In contrast, extrinsic motivation involves completing a task for an external reward, like studying hard to earn a good grade.
Consider a student who studies diligently for a test because they want to learn the material and gain knowledge (intrinsic) versus a student who studies to achieve high grades and receive praise from parents (extrinsic). Both motivations can influence behavior, but they result from different thought processes.