National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

External motivation refers to the drive to perform an activity due to the desire to earn a reward or avoid a negative consequence. It is often associated with external factors such as tangible rewards, recognition, praise, or wealth that come from outside the individual. In this type of motivation, the incentive is dependent on outcomes that are implemented by others, making it different from internal motivation, which arises from within. Examples of external motivation include a dentist providing a financial bonus to a dental hygienist for meeting certain performance goals or a patient committing to follow a home care regimen for the reward of better oral health.

The other options reflect different types of motivations that do not primarily involve external rewards. Internal motivation is derived from personal satisfaction and personal growth rather than external incentives. Formal and informal motivations relate more to the structure and nature of the motivation context and do not directly connect to the idea of rewards as a driving force for behavior. Thus, external motivation is correctly associated with the promise of a reward.