What factor primarily distinguishes Intrinsic Motivation from Extrinsic Motivation?

Intrinsic motivation is fundamentally characterized by a person's internal drive to engage in an activity for the inherent enjoyment or satisfaction it brings, rather than for some external reward or outcome. This means that when individuals are intrinsically motivated, their interest in the activity itself is what propels them to participate.

For example, someone who enjoys painting does it because they find joy in the process of creating art, not necessarily to gain recognition or financial compensation. This self-driven engagement is what sets intrinsic motivation apart from extrinsic motivation, which relies more on external factors such as rewards, recognition, or societal approval.

The other factors, such as feedback from others, task complexity, and frequency of rewards, can influence motivation but do not inherently distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic forms of motivation. Feedback might enhance motivation regardless of its intrinsic or extrinsic nature. Task complexity may affect how easily a person can engage with an activity, but it doesn’t define the nature of the motivation behind it. Similarly, frequency of rewards is more related to extrinsic motivation, which relies on external incentives, rather than the inherent pleasure found in the task itself.