The Paradox of Passion: How Rewards Covertly Control Motivation

The Paradox of Passion: How Rewards Covertly Control Motivation challenges conventional wisdom about motivation. It reveals why legacy research findings are often misinterpreted and overgeneralized, leading to unrealistic beliefs about the self and others that foster ineffective strategy use impeding optimal learning and performance.The book provides cross-disciplinary evidence emphasizing the essential role of rewards as a biological and behavioral driver of motivation. It challenges the clichéd idea of intrinsic motivation, pointing out the flaws in pursuing passion and purpose without considering how the brain regulates motivation through personalized rewards. Evidence reveals that a singular focus on passion is an unattainable ideal, akin to a mythical "motivation unicorn." Instead of hopes and dreams, the book offers practical insights and research-based strategies for enhancing learning and performance by effectively leveraging how the brain uses innate reward pathways to get what we want and sometimes obtain what we need.

• Publication date: 8 January 2026
• Page count: 384
• Dimensions: Height 234 mm; Width 150 mm; Thickness 26 mm
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9781538197196