What is a primary characteristic of extrinsic rewards?

Extrinsic rewards are primarily characterized by being tangible rewards that individuals earn as a result of completing specific tasks or achieving certain goals. These rewards can take various forms, such as money, prizes, recognition, or other concrete benefits. The nature of extrinsic rewards is that they are not inherently related to the individual's internal satisfaction or pleasure; rather, they stem from external sources and often serve as motivation to engage in certain behaviors or activities.

The reason this characteristic is essential is that extrinsic rewards provide a clear incentive for individuals to perform tasks, particularly when they may not have intrinsic motivation or personal interest in the activity itself. By understanding the tangible nature of these rewards, exercise physiologists can better design programs and interventions that utilize effective motivational strategies based on extrinsic motivations.

Other characteristics, such as being fulfilling due to internal pleasure, pertain more to intrinsic rewards, while extrinsic rewards are measurable and often require external validation or reinforcement to maintain motivation, which distinguishes them from those that can be sustained independently.