January 21, 2026

The High Costs of Motivating Students with Negative Approaches

Convincing students to do what we want and need them to do can be a challenge. Admittedly, some students are easily motivated by a challenge, a relevant topic, or even the expectation that they accomplish a task or learn a skill. Yet, other students respond less positively or not at all to generic motivational efforts and approaches. We may think that the only way to motivate them is to rely on fear, threats, shame, or criticism.

Negative motivational approaches often seem as though they work—at least in the near term. When we threaten students with negative consequences such as failure or public shame, they often comply—at least while we are watching. When the choice is to criticize students as being lazy or careless, it may seem that they give more effort or pay closer attention—for the moment.

However, negative motivational approaches often come with a high price. Consider:

Demands for compliance rarely result in long-term learning commitment.
Criticism can erode confidence in learning potential.
Threats can lead to avoidance of punishment or disapproval rather than learning driven by curiosity and creativity.
Discouraging and harsh comments are more apt to leave students feeling unsafe and disliked than motivated.
Coercive approaches are more likely to generate resentment, avoidance, and even defiance rather than to motivate.

Some people may argue that they know their students, and they are able to discern when a negative approach is necessary. In the short term, they might appear to have a point. They may seem to stimulate the behavior they demand via negative approaches. However, what is less obvious and more important are the long-term consequences that negative motivational attempts can generate such as:

Diminished trust.
Reduced self-respect.
Lower levels of self-confidence.
Weaker self-regulation behaviors and skills.
Increased dependence on others for direction.
Greater needs for external validation.

So, what are some positive alternatives to dependence on negative motivational strategies? Here are six options to consider and build on:

Correct behavior while affirming the student’s worth and potential.
Reaffirm student agency through choices, recognition of progress, and goal setting.
Offer positive pressure through attainable challenges, clear goals, and timely feedback and encouragement.
Connect learning to student interests, purpose, growth, and service to others.
Notice and reinforce effort, progress, and goal achievement.
Hold high expectations and support students to meet them.

Without question, motivation is a crucial element in learning. Finding ways to motivate and teach students how to motivate themselves can be challenging. However, resorting to negative motivational strategies comes with significant risks for students that can be lifelong. The additional time and thought required to stimulate learning interest and commitment via positive approaches are more than worth the effort and can benefit students long after they leave us.