Self Determination Theory
A Psychological Theory of Motivation
BY: T. Franklin Murphy | November 16, 2020 (modified January 5, 2023)
BY: T. Franklin Murphy | November 16, 2020 (modified January 5, 2023)
According to self determination theory, we are more motivated when intrinsically driven to satisfy basic human needs.
Nearly twenty-years ago, I stumbled on a book. Sitting prominently on my bookshelf, now tattered cover with ragged pages, this paperback book contains hundreds of markings, paragraphs underlined, and margins filled with scribbles. I couldn’t put down Edward Deci and Richard Flaste’s book: Why We Do What We Do. The title resonated with me; I wanted to know why people did what they did. After fifteen-years in law enforcement, I struggled to understand human cruelty and misfortune. Deci and Flaste's book couldn’t answer my deeper existential questions, however, they presented a helpful piece to the puzzle—self-determination theory.
What is Self-Determination Theory?Self-determination theorists investigate “people’s inherent growth tendencies and innate psychological needs” (Ryan and Deci, 2000, p. 68). With an abundance of supporting empirical evidence, self-determination theory has identified conditions that foster positive personality development and behavior self-regulation.
Self-determination theory rests on two primary assumptions:
Self-determination theory posits that humans naturally progress when universal psychological needs are met. Self determination theory suggests that three universal core needs are:
We are intrinsically motivated to satisfy these needs. Behaviors that fulfill these needs are rewarding. An important point of self-determination theory is that "self-determination" is a product of environments. Key Definition: Self-determination theory suggests that people develop when the external environment doesn't inhibit pursuit of three innate and universal psychological needs (competency, relatedness, and autonomy).
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