Forsome, therewardwas $300, whileforothers, only $30.
Interestingly, performancewas 95% greaterinthehigh $300 group, highlightinghowmoneycanbe a motivator.
But, inthesecondtask, thesamestudentswereaskedtosolve a morecomplexmathproblem, andthistime, thoseofferedthehighrewardperformed 32% slowerthanthesmallrewardgroup.
Thisisknownasthe 'distractioneffect'.
Whenwe'regiven a taskthatrequiresproblemsolving, economicoremotionalpressurecancausethefocustoshifttothemotivator, ultimatelydividingyourattentionandreducingperformance.
Whenwelookinsidethebrainsofindividuals, fMRIscansrevealthatpeoplewhocomplete a challengeforfunandpeoplewhodoitfor a rewardshowsimilaractivitythroughoutthebrain.
But, interestingly, ifthoseoffered a rewardthefirsttimeareaskedtoparticipateagainfornoreward, scansshow a decreaseinactivityintheanteriorstriatumandprefrontalareas, partsofthebrainlinkedtoself-motivation.
Youmightburnthemostcalorieson a treadmill, butnotifyoustopgoingafter 2 weeks. Picksomethingyouactuallylikedoing!
Yourgoalitselfalsomatters. A studyinvestigatingreasonsforexercisefoundthatthosefocusedonweightlossspent 32% lesstimeexercisingthanthosewhosaidtheywanttofeelbetterinday-to-daylife.
And, whileit's alwaysgoodtohave a positiveattitude, optimismmaynotalwaysbethebeststrategy.
In a studyof 210 femalestryingtoquitsmoking, participantswhoonlyimaginedmajorsuccesswithfewobstacleswerelesslikelytoreducecigaretteconsumption.
Positivethoughtscanoftentrickyourbrainintothinkingyou'vealreadyachievedthegoal, givingyou a senseofrewardandreducingmotivation.
Butthisdoesn't meannegativethoughtsaregood.
Imagining a goalcomingtrue, andthenthinkingthroughtheobstaclesthatstandinyourwayisthebestmixedapproach. Thisisknownas 'mentalcontrasting'.
Itturnsout, thosewhohadlargemilkshakesalsoendedupeatingmoreicecreambecause 'whatthehell, I'vealreadyruinedmydiet, I mightaswellgoallout'.
Anticipatingthatyouwillhavesomebumpsalongtheroadtosuccess, whetheritbe a fitnessgoal, quittingsmokingorworkaspirations, willbringyouclosertomakingyourgoals a reality.