J. T. Fuller | December 11, 2021
Complex thinking is a highly desirable trait, one that parents often strive for children to develop. Unfortunately, the ability to think complexly can be impaired by fatigue and misguided rewards. It is more difficult to make decisions requiring complex thought on an empty stomach or when tired (Tierney, 2011). Using rewards as incentives discourages complex thoughts related to attributes like creativity or altruism (Pink, 2011). Instead, rewards can motivate complex thought in the wrong direction, by encouraging problematic behavior such as cheating or short-term thinking. Rewards are more appropriate for tasks that do not require complex thinking, where there is minimal intrinsic motivation for the activity.
It should come as no surprise to learn decision fatigue sets in as decision-making progresses (Tierney, 2011). An increase in fatigue results in a lower tolerance for change, decreased willpower, and a decrease in the ability to make good long-term decisions. For example, the human ability to compromise is an advanced form of decision-making and is quick to decline with a decline in willpower. A way to reset this is to restore stable glucose levels, ideally complex carbohydrates rather than quick-acting simple sugars, but sugar will do in a pinch. The best practice would be to avoid making any major decisions in the late afternoon or evening, and certainly not on an empty stomach.
Rewards-based motivation can decrease intrinsic motivation, high performance, creativity, and altruistic behavior. In Pink (2011), various studies were presented showing that people largely did not perform better by being promised more money. In some cases, offering more money created a distraction rather than an incentive. Creative work specifically is often not as good when done for money, rather than the intrinsic value of creating. People give less blood when done for compensation rather than a donation.
In addition to lowering intrinsic motivation, rewards can result in problematic behavior (Pink, 2011). This can be seen by cheating, addiction, and short-term thinking. In one study, parents of children in daycare increased the frequency of late pickups when the center started charging a late pickup fee intended to discourage late pickups. Using rewards for motivation may result in needing rewards to create the behavior and behavior avoidance without rewards. In another study, it was demonstrated that focusing on short-term gains came at a great long-term cost.
That said, rewards for routine tasks can be helpful if applied carefully (Pink, 2011). A primary concern for rewarding behavior is the risk of a decrease in intrinsic motivation, but if there is no intrinsic motivation to be had, then rewards may be a good choice for motivation. Boring tasks can benefit from rewards, but even better is to include why the task is important, acknowledge the task is boring, and give freedom in completion to provide some autonomy, which can feed intrinsic motivation.
In the context of parent-child relationships, there are several opportunities for consideration. First, set decisions up for success by engaging when complex thinking can occur. Important decisions and discussions should take place early in the day, or at minimum over a snack. If family breakfast is not feasible, over dinner would be a good choice for discussing important matters. Children should be encouraged to observe whether their parent has eaten before making requests to increase the likelihood of a successful request. Similarly, if a child is displaying a lack of complex thinking, consider whether a snack is in order.
Rewards as motivation is a common parenting technique, whether by paying for chores or grades, sticker charts for good behavior, or any other “this for that” exchange system. Children often engage in maladaptive behavior, gaming the system to get the desired reward with less effort. A better long-term strategy would be to develop intrinsic motivation for the task. This could be incorporating autonomy into the task, giving the child control over when and how to complete the task. Providing frequent specific feedback is beneficial, as well as focusing on the child’s effort and strategy rather than the child’s intelligence to encourage a growth mindset. Combining chores and allowance should be strictly avoided to prevent a perception that chores are undesirable. It is preferable to require chores without pay and find a way to create intrinsic motivation for the task.
Pink, D. H. (2011). Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Riverhead Books.
Tierney, J. (2011, August 18). Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/magazine/do-you-suffer-from-decision- fatigue.html