Incentive theories in motivational psychology propose that behaviour is energised not only by internal needs but also by the pull of external rewards, building on early insights from Edward L. Thorndike’s Law of Effect (1905) and later refined by researchers such as Clark Hull (1943), Kenneth W. Spence (1956), D. E. Berlyne (1960), Dalbir Bindra(1968), and Robert C. Bolles (1972). Unlike drive theory, which argues that behaviour is pushed by internal physiological deficits (e.g., hunger, thirst) seeking homeostasis, incentive motivation emphasizes how anticipated rewards, such as praise, achievement, or pleasure, attract behaviour even without biological deprivation. This shift from internal drives to external incentives helped illuminate why people often pursue goals that do not reduce physiological needs, highlighting the importance of meaning, curiosity, and reward-learning in everyday life. Understanding these mechanisms enhances personal wellbeing by helping individuals design environments that support positive habits and goal pursuit, while at the societal level it informs healthier workplaces, more motivating educational systems, and policies that encourage constructive behaviour through thoughtful incentive structures. Motivational choices reflect the value we place on both the meeting of internal needs and the achievement of external rewards. Humans are evaluators who assess their current opportunities against the backcloth of their personal value system. Christianity offers an ultimate prosocial values framework within which motivational choices may be inspired and guided by the Spirit of God.