Self-Determination Theory

Definition

Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is a comprehensive theory of human motivation that focuses on the degree to which an individual's behavior is self-motivated and self-determined. It explores the innate psychological needs that drive individuals to engage in behaviors and the factors that promote or hinder this natural tendency.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Self-Determination Theory posits that individuals have three innate psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which when satisfied, lead to greater well-being and intrinsic motivation.
2. Intrinsic motivation, which is essential for optimal performance and well-being, is facilitated when individuals feel autonomous, competent, and connected to others.
3. Extrinsic motivators, such as rewards and punishments, can undermine intrinsic motivation if they are perceived as controlling or limiting one's autonomy.
4. The degree to which an individual's motivation is autonomous (self-determined) versus controlled (externally regulated) has important implications for their behavior, performance, and well-being.
5. Self-Determination Theory has been applied to a wide range of domains, including education, healthcare, sports, and the workplace, to understand and enhance human motivation and flourishing.

Review Questions

• Explain how self-determination theory relates to the direction and intensity of motivation.
  • According to self-determination theory, the direction and intensity of motivation are influenced by the degree to which an individual's behavior is self-determined. Behaviors that are intrinsically motivated, driven by the inherent satisfaction and enjoyment of the activity itself, tend to be more persistent and effortful compared to behaviors that are extrinsically motivated, driven by external rewards or punishments. When individuals feel autonomous, competent, and connected to others, their intrinsic motivation is enhanced, leading to greater engagement, persistence, and performance.
• Describe how self-determination theory relates to content theories of motivation.
  • Self-determination theory can be considered a content theory of motivation, as it identifies the innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness as the key drivers of human motivation. Content theories focus on the specific factors or needs that motivate individuals, and self-determination theory posits that the fulfillment of these three basic needs is essential for optimal motivation and well-being. The theory suggests that individuals will be more motivated to engage in activities that satisfy these fundamental needs, which can have important implications for the design of motivational systems and environments.
• Analyze how self-determination theory relates to process theories of motivation.
  • Self-determination theory can also be viewed as a process theory of motivation, as it explains the underlying mechanisms and psychological processes that govern the regulation of behavior. The theory explores how individuals internalize and integrate external regulations, and the factors that facilitate or hinder this process of self-determination. By understanding the role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the motivational process, self-determination theory provides insights into how individuals' motivational orientations (i.e., the degree to which their motivation is autonomous or controlled) can influence their performance, persistence, and well-being across various domains.

Related terms

Intrinsic Motivation: The drive to engage in an activity for its own sake, out of interest and enjoyment, rather than for external rewards or pressures.

Extrinsic Motivation: The drive to engage in an activity in order to obtain a separable outcome, such as a reward or to avoid punishment.

Autonomy: The need to feel in control of one's own behaviors and decisions, and to act in harmony with one's integrated self.