You may well question whether work was ever as self- rewarding as this contrast suggests.

ECONOMIST: What has work become?

"Whilst Waste Watch believes encouraging people to recycle is a good thing, there is also evidence that suggests self-rewarding people for good behaviours may encourage people only to act in the future if rewarded, rather than acting because they care or value society and the environment, " he said.

BBC: Bracknell Forest residents rewarded for recycling

"Self-disclosure is extra rewarding, " said Harvard neuroscientist Diana Tamir, who conducted the experiments with Harvard colleague Jason Mitchell.

WSJ: The Science of Bragging and Boasting