The Overjustification Effect

11/11/2021

An experiment was done in 1973 by Mark Lepper to study the overjustification effect. The overjustification effect is a physiological phenomenon that makes being rewarded for something actually diminishes the motivation to perform the act. To test this, Mark took a group of young kids that enjoyed drawing and tasked them to simply draw. After the drawings were finished, half of the kids received a gold star for their drawing. This was repeated a few more times, with the kids receiving gold stars each time. Mark then stopped distributing gold stars entirely after each drawing was completed. Now that the gold stars had been removed, the kids who had been recipients of eccentric rewards or gold stars lost motivation to draw, seeing no reason to continue if they couldn’t get a gold star for it. Participation and eccentric rewards are seen as something that can motivate someone to do something because of the reward, but this experiment is an example that they aren’t as positive as they seem. Should eccentric or participation rewards be handed out? How are people affected by these rewards? What makes these rewards important to someone if it doesn’t represent anything but participation? I think that people should be interested in what they are doing, not the gold star that they get for it. If a person ties their success and motivation to a gold star then they won’t be able to do anything else that doesn’t offer gold stars and participation rewards.

45 Comments

Carson Mildon

11/13/2021 06:04:55 pm

In elementary school I remember every kid receiving a participation ribbon for our annual track meet. Whenever I received one of these (due to falling short and not placing in a competition) I always felt like they were for pity and didn't mean anything. I am curious to know if others felt and feel the same away about these types of rewards. I would also like to know more about some of the research done on participation awards before I have an opinion.

Hailey

11/14/2021 01:20:20 pm

When I was young I did not feel as though participation awards were given due to pity. However, as I have aged & been apart of a wide variety of activities, I have realized that a participation awards are given to make everyone feel equal, when that is not realistic. One must learn to accept that there are different levels of performance in activities, and those that perform at a higher level should receive greater rewards for their achievements.

Courtney Vennell

11/14/2021 03:16:44 pm

I definitely agree with Hailey when she says that these award are give to help kids feel equal, except sometimes they do make kids feel how Carson felt.

Jonah

11/14/2021 04:02:36 pm

I remember those same awards. I feel the same way as you do, I think. I just wanted to throw them away, I didn’t care about them.

Hailey

11/14/2021 01:16:01 pm

I think when children are young, participation awards can serve as positive motivation to participate in various activities. As kids, few are focused upon the life lessons that extracurriculars have to offer. Instead, they enjoy the praises offered by those who watch them develop over the course of an activity. I think participation awards at this age can serve as an incentive to try new things. However, as a child matures, I believe award should only be granted to those who excel in leadership, skill, or another aspect that is vital to the specific activity. At a higher level of maturity, an individual should begin participating in something because of their interest in it or because of the benefits they will gain from it in their future, not merely because of the desire for a “gold star.”

Courtney Vennell

11/14/2021 03:18:40 pm

I agree with what you’re saying about younger kids needing an award for something like participation because it serves as motivation and encouragement.

Jonah

11/14/2021 04:05:01 pm

I agree that perhaps at a younger age, participation awards do have a purpose. I remember in my first year of wrestling, I was pretty good. But this one match in Corvallis I barely lost to a kid who was better than me. I was super upset. All I wanted was to beat up the kid and steal his award because I felt like I deserved it. Then I quit wrestling.

Ele

11/14/2021 06:13:29 pm

I like how you bring up how these rewards can allow children to try new and different activities, though, as adults we should strive to succeed through desire, it is very true.

Courtney Vennell

11/14/2021 03:23:07 pm

I believe that participation awards and the idea that “everybody deserves an award” is merely something that people started doing to help kids feel equal. However, at sometimes these awards make kids feel the total opposite of that. Take for example, a kid who works very hard on something and does his best, only to receive the same award that another kid got who did the bare minimum and didn’t even try. That first kid is going to see that and say “wow why did I work so hard when to receive an award I don’t need to try that hard”. That is why I believe that every kid getting the same award isn’t going to motivate them, it is going to ruin their motivation.

Hailey

11/14/2021 03:28:07 pm

You bring up a very good point, Courtney. Why would a child, or anyone for that matter, want to work hard if their counterparts that work a fraction as much receive the same reward as themselves? We can see the impacts of this in our country’s unemployment levels. Many individuals are choosing not to work because the money they receive from the government is similar, equal to, or in some cases even more than what they would earn in the work force. If morals and ethics are removed from the situation, it makes sense why so many are choosing to stay at home rather than work.

Kendra

11/14/2021 03:28:14 pm

The idea that all kids are equal is simply untrue. There will always be kids who put in more effort than others.

Carson Mildon

11/14/2021 04:22:05 pm

I really like how you brought up the perspective of a kid that "won" an event and received the same award as someone who got last. It would definitely make me sad to know I received the same award as someone who didn't try as hard at an event as I did.

Janessa

11/14/2021 03:23:12 pm

The half of the children that didn’t receive gold stars were able to freely enjoy drawing without an incentive controlling their actions. They found real joy in their drawings, without anyone telling them it was good or bad, simply because it’s what they wanted to do. It’s interesting to see that carefree joy fade as people age, as they being to base their actions on the approval of others. Calculating worth on the focus of material wealth, like the biggest house, or the most number of awards, or the highest priced shoes, leads to a life without fulfillment. But, I firmly believe that we can avoid sorrow and feelings of confusion if we instead focus on doing activities that make us happy, not because people tell us we are good at them, but because we find satisfaction with ourselves in being there.

Kendra

11/14/2021 03:29:17 pm

I really like what you said about how we would act differently if we didn’t compare ourselves to others. The world would be a lot different if we didn’t have that influence.

Carson Mildon

11/14/2021 04:23:47 pm

I like how you talked about the gold star study from a different view point. I didn't realize it maybe being a good thing when i first read it.

Micah Tolman

11/14/2021 04:52:51 pm

Insightful comment Janessa. Thank you. I think a lot of people lately are seeking a sense of fulfillment. I believe they may be lacking this because they have grown up with participation ribbons and what not.

Kendra

11/14/2021 03:25:30 pm

I remember well the track and field days in Elementary school when some kids would only get the participation ribbon. I think that as they got older the participation ribbon made them feel worse than if they hadn’t received anything at all. It didn’t really serve a purpose and so I think that this participation award concept could really go either way. It makes me wonder if awards should really be given out at all. Maybe if I had some of the facts my argument would be stronger.

Micah Tolman

11/14/2021 04:49:44 pm

By giving them participation ribbons, are we cheating them of one of life’s greatest lessons, which so to learn to deal with disappointments? A lot of people now seem not to know how to accept criticism. I wonder if that might be because of participation ribbons and what not.

Janessa

11/14/2021 07:42:04 pm

Those ribbons do seem to have the opposite effect than they were intended for. They may make a child think their efforts aren't actually valued, and they are given rewards out of pity.

Micah Tolman

11/14/2021 04:08:54 pm

We should be focused on doing good with no thought of reward. I believe a big part of why kids these days are so unmotivated is because they have been spoiled with figurative gold stars for their accomplishments. The reward for our actions should be the natural outcome such as joy, satisfaction, and success. If we look beyond this, then we have failed.

Robyn Chaffin

11/14/2021 04:48:42 pm

Kids definitely are different today than we were as kids or as our parents were as kids. I don't think that it is the children's faults for being unmotivated. I think that the way the generation of parents were raised has greatly affected the way children now are being raised.

Ele

11/14/2021 06:17:22 pm

I agree with you Micah. Many of the life lessons we learn should not be focused through a participation award. Motivation should come through desire and hard work. As doing what you explain, rewards should be felt naturally.

Jonah

11/14/2021 04:12:47 pm

I don't believe in participation awards. I think that if you want something in life, you should have to put in the time and effort to achieve that goal. Sometimes you can try your best, and still not achieve something. But that's how life goes. So that is when you pull up your bootstraps and use that as fuel to grow and push yourself even harder than before. Participation awards just encourage average-ness, which is something that I think has become an increasingly common trend in society, especially lately, whether it be through parenting techniques or political agendas or whatever.

Robyn

11/14/2021 04:52:13 pm

For some reason, society thinks that kids need to be put on the same playing level. Which isn't the case. Some kids start out ahead and some start out behind, that's how life works. Giving everyone the same award doesn't do any good. The golden star causes children to lose friends and motivation because they realize that even though they did the assignment and one kid didn't, they all get the same recognition. So why should they put in the work if they know they will get an award anyway?

Dakota James

11/14/2021 06:00:39 pm

You make a very valid point, that if we got an award every single time, there would be no motivation to get better. Sometimes when we fail or fall short of achievement, we go back trying harder and push ourselves farther. This is what makes us better in any situation. There is always room for improvement, but if we receive a trophy for minimal success we may become satisfied and not continue to progress.

Boaz Oswald

11/14/2021 08:15:56 pm

I think that disappointment has become a very negative thing by society but you are right that people need to learn to push through that feeling, because disappointment will inevitably come.

Robyn Chaffin

11/14/2021 04:45:02 pm

I think that giving kids an award after accomplishing a task just teaches them to expect trophies and rewards after completing simple assignments. When the day comes that they don't receive a reward after doing a task things go wrong. They decide that nothing is worth doing if they aren't going to get anything in return. For me, awards are something that are earned after hard work. Awards are something that should be fought for and should encourage people to do better.

Dakota James

11/14/2021 05:57:34 pm

I agree that we should not expect a trophy after every accomplishment because that is not how the real world works. One's confidence and understanding of their growth should be rewarding enough, after completing a significant activity. I also like how you said awards are in place to make us better, because as humans, we want to win. Participation trophies do not support that idea.

Janessa

11/14/2021 07:38:57 pm

Your points remind me of training animals. After the animals complete the expected tasks, they get a reward afterward, usually a treat or maybe the click of a button. The task they do doesn't mean anything to them, it only promises a treat. This isn't how we should think of the activities we do.

Adyson Sawyer

11/15/2021 07:31:02 am

You bring up a good point that when children stop receiving the awards that they might stop trying or not know what to do. That really changed how I look at my opinion.

Dakota James

11/14/2021 05:54:57 pm

I myself, have witnessed people participate in activities solely for an award. This diminishes the true reason of taking part in an activity or sport, in my opinion. I believe rewards should be distributed to those who have shown exemplary accomplishment in whatever the activity is. I am not fond of participation trophies either, because they set all of the competitors at the same level, and eventually those who excel will be discouraged when they see others receive a similar award. In short, a reward should not be one's only incentive to participate, and all participants should not receive the same reward.

Lizzie Nelson

11/14/2021 06:30:16 pm

I like how you say "a reward should not be one's only incentive to participate" because many people simply do it for the recognition. While there are others who do it because they enjoy it and they put the work in to be good at it. Those who put in the extra time and effort should be rewarded for doing so not simply because they did the bare minimum of what was required.

Ele

11/14/2021 06:10:04 pm

Though this act may bring opportunity for kids to try an activity and sport, I believe that participation awards are not needed. The individual should find reward in starting and completing the activity. Yes other rewards are great, but each individual, if they want to obtain that reward need to compete for it. Just like in everyday life, we have to compete and do our best if we want to achieve a goal. Sometimes we may not get that award or achieve the task we face but it is always a lesson learned. Failure allows us to grow for the future, and success let’s us remember our past. Participation awards are an average reward to show equality. Personally for me, I’d rather have nothing than a participation award. If there is a goal or reward I am reaching for, I want to try my best for success, if I don’t obtain that goal, I take something out of that experience.

Lizzie Nelson

11/14/2021 06:27:51 pm

I also think that individuals or teams need to work to receive the awards not simply have them handed to them. In the real world they don't hand out participation awards for showing up to work on time or by doing the bare minimum. They give bonuses or promotions to the people that go above and beyond of what is simply required.

Nathan

11/14/2021 07:24:19 pm

It is important to instill self motivation in people while they are young. If we are not self motivated it will be really hard to do the needed or the right thing when there is no one watching or no one there to help you.

Lizze Nelson

11/14/2021 06:25:16 pm

Throughout the years I have participated in numerous different activities and there has been some events that have given participation awards and some that do not. I think that it is highly rewarding to see your hard work paying off by receiving a medal for first or even third place. Sometimes it feels less of value if everyone gets the same reward. I think people should be apart of activities they enjoy and shouldn't simply do them to receive an award. I believe that awards should be handed out to those who performed the best and put in the work to be that good. It is nice to be acknowledged but I don't think that it is fair for the people who worked harder to receive the same award that another person got simply by putting in the bare minimum.

Nathan

11/14/2021 07:21:50 pm

This is what I have also found with participation rewards. Life is not fair so we should not teach the little children that it is.

Adyson Sawyer

11/15/2021 07:28:35 am

I agree that the participants should not be given the same award, however I think along with giving the winners a better award, i think it’s important to awards those who tried as well so they keep wanted to get the better award.

Nathan

11/14/2021 07:17:56 pm

I remember when I was little and there was a competition, I would usually try really hard at it because I am competitive. If I did well and placed I would receive a medal or an award but the times when everyone got a reward also, my accomplishments felt lessened because my hard work was nulled by the people who did nothing and still go rewarded. This is why participation medals promote laziness.

Boaz Oswald

11/14/2021 08:13:53 pm

The affect that these things have on others is an interesting can of worms on its own that I didn't think about.

Boaz Oswald

11/14/2021 08:13:00 pm

Handing out awards is an interesting concept. It is good to be acknowledged for doing something but that acknowledgment urges the recipient to place value in the reward rather than the act and the effort. This means that those people grow up wanting to do what it takes to be known rather than to produce something with quality. I understand the motive behind it but ultimately the result is negative.

Beth Davidson

11/15/2021 08:21:08 am

I agree that it is nice in concept but it often results in entitlement and less quality competition.

Adyson Sawyer

11/15/2021 07:26:44 am

When I was growing up I was often giving participation ribbons for things like science fairs, races at school, or class projects but I did not see them as pity awards. However growing up playing hockey I remember that they would always give the losing and winning team medals which I loved since most of the time we lost all of our games. Thinking back I’m glad I was a awarded something for my efforts otherwise I may not have wanted to keep playing. Ultimately I think it’s important for children to know that they did a good job no matter the out come.

Beth

11/15/2021 08:19:58 am

When a reward is given for the top spot, doesn’t giving out rewards to everyone else make your award seem less special?

Beth Davidson

11/15/2021 08:17:58 am

Rewards are often incentive for children and adults to complete a task or compete in a competition. Most people will compete for a chance at the reward. With so many people competing against you, it makes the reward that much better. Participation rewards dissuade those who are competitive from giving their best effort.

The Overjustification Effect

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