Child Quote by Gabor Maté
““External motivators for behavior such as rewards and punishments may destroy the precious internal motivation to be good, making leverage by such artificial means necessary by default. As an investment in easy parenting, trusting in a child's desire to be good for us is one of the best.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Power of Attachment”, 2020
External rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation; trust child's innate desire to be good for healthier development.
In simple terms: Rewards may hurt inner drive; trust child's goodness.
Foster autonomy and intrinsic values.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- parent‑child interactions
- education settings
- team leadership
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance guidance with autonomy?
- What signs show intrinsic motivation thriving?
External incentives sometimes necessary for safety.