Which theory explains studying to receive praise from others as an example of external rewards driving behavior?

• A. Drives
• B. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
• C. Yerkes-Dodson Law
• D. Incentive Theory

Answer: (D)

External rewards motivate behavior. Incentive theory says actions are driven by anticipated rewards in the environment that people value, like praise, money, or good grades. When you study with the goal of getting praise from others, that praise serves as an external incentive that makes studying more likely, because the positive social feedback reinforces the behavior.

Drive theories focus on internal states that push us to reduce discomfort, such as hunger or thirst. Maslow’s hierarchy describes a ladder of needs from basic to self-actualization, which includes social aspects but isn’t specifically about external rewards driving behavior. The Yerkes-Dodson law links arousal to performance rather than to rewards. So the idea that studying to receive praise is driven by external rewards aligns best with incentive theory.