intrinsic reward

a positively valued outcome that is implicit in an activity, such as the pleasure or satisfaction gained from developing a special skill. Intrinsic rewards originate directly from the task performance and do not originate from other people. Compare extrinsic reward.

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Psychology term of the day

February 1st 2025

metapsychological profile

in psychoanalysis, a systematic profile of a patient’s intrapsychic functioning, in contrast to a mere list of symptoms; such a profile offers a picture of his or her entire personality. The technique was developed by Anna Freud in 1965.