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It sounds like a simple, well-meaning deal: “Get an A, get cash.” No yelling, no grounding, no lectures—just a clean transaction between effort and reward.
On the surface, it feels smart, modern, even motivational. Who wouldn’t work harder if there’s money on the table? But psychology has been quietly waving a red flag for decades, and the message is clear: paying students for grades doesn’t build confident learners—it often builds anxious performers.
