Internal and External Incentive

Extrinsic motivation may actually suppress intrinsic motivation and therefore have a negative affect on human behavior and development.      One possible view of an extrinsic incentive is that it may reflect a narcissistic self-entitlement; ie in order for us to act with common sense we have to receive extrinsic rewards.   So, our desire in this sense is for reward, and as such we condition ourselves that everything should be this way - our actions are then governed by extrinsic desire for reward and not intrinsic passion, we run a great risk of becoming indifferent or apathetic to real problems.   It's easy to see how this type of thinking can quickly become life-negating.    Though it seems attractive at first glance, it ironically negates free-will and self-examination and therefore denies us the opportunity to empower ourselves.   The danger is that we may look to the 'other' for what we can rightly discover in ourselves.  Another view is that we might reevaluate what the term incentive means.   Perhaps an incentive may come in the form of self-improvement; igniting our passion to become well-rounded individuals that develop nurturing characteristics of empathy and compassion.  Internalizing this idea of incentive seems a powerful way to develop and express passion and individual creativity.   It may also reduce our reliance on the 'other'.