Özgür Bolat’s bestselling book launches internationally

Academic and author Özgür Bolat’s book, originally published in Turkey as “Beni Ödülle Cezalandırma,” is being released internationally under the title “The Reward Trap: Why Rewards Backfire and the Real Science of Motivating Kids.” Published by the US-based publisher Familius, the book has already reached over 450,000 readers in Turkey.

The work examines the psychological impact of using rewards and praise on children, arguing that while these methods may change behavior in the short term, they often fail to foster genuine, long-term motivation. Bolat suggests that rewards may create a dependency on external validation rather than helping children develop internal values and decision-making skills.

The international edition features forewords by Nobel Laureate Aziz Sancar and motivation psychology expert Prof. Richard M. Ryan. It also includes contributions and evaluations from various academics associated with institutions such as Harvard Medical School, MIT, and the University of Cambridge.