# 17. Symbolic Reward ## 17.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 17.5.3. Affective-Social Reward This is the emotional reward which plays on individuals and groups when objectives are successfully achieved. It is also known as "getting a buzz" from completing some difficult or long task. It may knit social groups together and provide strong sources of motivation, but it in no way implies the delivery of any material reward to the subjects. Such symbolic rewards are felt to be far less objectionable than those with promissory overtones because the subjects are rewarded simply by being part of a group that successfully achieved its goal. Nonetheless, the existence of affective rewards is used as a form of indirect reward and again, it substitutes for real tangible rewards such as a share in the goal success or any economic or social spin offs of the success.