Rewards or motivations given to encourage someone to do something they want or need to do.
From Latin 'incentivus' (inciting, setting the tune). 'In-' means 'into' and 'canere' means 'to sing'; literally meant things that 'sing into' or incite action.
Behavioral economists discovered that too many incentives can backfire—paying people for something they already enjoyed actually made them like it less (the overjustification effect).
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