May 26, 2026
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intrinsic

michael wu

The Psychology Behind Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation with Michael Wu

Ivan Kuo32 mins

The Gamification Revolution is the only live gamification webcast featuring Gabe Zichermann and fellow gamification experts every week. Be sure to catch our next episode tomorrow on Wednesday, October 9 at 1PM ET/1800 GMT, where we will feature  prominent gamification community figure, Yu-Kai Chou.

Remember you can participate in the show if you sign-in and RSVP! Signing in will allow you to receive show reminders, ask questions, and even join Gabe and our guest for a live question.

Last week, Lithium’s Chief Scientist Michael Wu came on the show to discuss the psychology behind engagement and motivation. During the show he mentions the following on the morality of motivating others intrinsically:

“Engaging with people through their intrinsic motivations isn’t good or bad…it’s just the way it is”

What does he mean? Watch the full episode below to get a thorough explanation of the meaning behind intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, how motivation changes over time, and a glimpse into Lithium’s IT security practices:



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In Defense of Trophies: The Case for Rewarding Every Step

Gabe Zichermann411 mins

This week, Ashley Merryman (co-author with Po Bronson of two books on motivation) wrote a startlingly misguided op-ed in the New York Times entitled Losing is Good For You. The title suggests that the author was going to dive into the teaching power of failure (which is amazing). Instead, it’s a thinly supported screed against “rewarding kids for just showing up,” and judging from the comments it’s touched the Lazy Millennial nerve as well. While the authors deserve creative credit for creating a new middle class bogeyman in the form of the “Trophy-Industrial Complex”, the rest of the article is full of intellectual leaps that might leave parents and educators with the wrong impression.

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GSummit 2012 Behind the Scenes: Jeff Ma on Intrinsic Motivation

Taavi Lindmaa11 mins

(13/26 Gamification Expert Interviews Unlocked)

Every week until GSummit SF 2013, we’ll be unlocking some special content from last year to give you a preview on what to expect this April 16 – 18.

Jeff Ma of Bringing Down the House fame and tenXer discusses what motivation means to a man who can beat the system:

To see more expert gamification videos, visit our Video page or Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Learn the latest in gamification by going to GSummit SF 2013. Register today!

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