To Reward or Not Reward...in ADHD
This has been a hot topic of debate among professionals in the field for as long as motivation has been a topic of study. There are many schools of thought, and you may get a different opinion depending on who you ask. ADHD and Rewards In individuals with ADHD, rewards can trigger a dopamine response, a chemical reaction in the brain that plays a crucial role in motivation and pleasure. This chemical reaction, in turn, facilitates the completion of mundane tasks. Dopamine levels are lower in people with ADHD. In this, people with ADHD cannot derive any pleasure from boring things. On top of that, they generally aren't "big picture" thinkers, so they don't see the benefit of completing the task in the long run. Also, they tend to struggle with pushing through hard things. Therefore, having rewards in place can provide the immediate release of dopamine that is required to push through a boring or challenging task. Rules fo...