# Intrinsic motivation Intrinsic [[Motivation (MoC)|Motivation]] is stronger than extrinsic motivation. It means doing something for the satisfaction of doing it, and for the pleasure/satisfaction it brings. What matters is the fun or the challenge of doing the thing, not external consequences, pressures or expected rewards. It's is all about engagement, curiosity, experimentation. When you have intrinsic motivation, you have drive and you're eager to learn more. Intrinsic motivation is central to how children learn, grow and for cognitive development, and clearly visible. ## References - [Berlyne, 1960](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/neuro.12.006.2007/full#B5) - [Csikszentmihalyi, 1991](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/neuro.12.006.2007/full#B10) - [Deci and Ryan, 1985](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/neuro.12.006.2007/full#B12) - [Ryan and Deci, 2000](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/neuro.12.006.2007/full#B40) - [White, 1959](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/neuro.12.006.2007/full#B47) ## Related - [[General human motivations]] - [[Extrinsic motivation]]