Behavior is motivated by the desire for external rewards or incentives.

• A. Intrinsic motivation
• B. Incentive theory
• C. Self Determination Theory
• D. Approach-avoidance Conflict

Answer: (B)

External rewards or incentives shape behavior. Incentive theory says we are motivated to act in order to gain something valuable in the external world—money, praise, grades, or status—or to avoid a negative outcome. These anticipated rewards reinforce the behavior and make it more likely to occur. This differs from intrinsic motivation, which comes from internal satisfaction or interest, and from Self Determination Theory, which looks at how autonomy, competence, and relatedness influence motivation and how extrinsic rewards can interact with those needs. Approach-avoidance conflict describes weighing a positive goal against a potential negative outcome in a single decision, rather than a general motive driven by external rewards.