The phrase "emotional payoff" refers to the satisfaction or fulfillment we feel when our emotions are validated or rewarded by a particular experience or outcome. Full definition
The reason most people like this payment method is because of the quick emotional payoff of getting rid of that first loan. (poorerthanyou.com)
But their war effort has little emotional payoff for the audience because there is no sense that they are fighting for a cause. (sfchronicle.com)
Just because it's quaint and lively, doesn't quite give it the depth necessary to deliver during the attempted emotional payoff at the end. (qwipster.net)