Psychological needs for motivation (Deci and Ryan)

• Self-determination theory


  Assumes that people are driven by three innate and universal psychological needs and that personal well-being is a direct function of the satisfaction of these basic psychological needs
• Competence


  • Need to be effective in dealing with the environment
• Competence


  A term utilised to describe someone who has sufficient qualities to perform a given task or to describe the state of having sufficient intellect, judgement, skill, and/or strength
• When an individual feels competent


  They feel able to interact effectively within their environment, and they have the skills needed for success to ensure that their goals are achieved
• If tasks are too challenging or a person receives negative feedback


  Feelings of competence can decrease
• Feelings of competence are enhanced


  When the demands of a task are optimally matched to a person's skills, and positive feedback is received
• Relatedness


  • Need to have close, affectionate relationships
• Relatedness


  The ability to feel a sense of both attachment to other people and a sense of belonging amongst other people/social group
• Without connections


  Self-determination is harder to achieve because the individual would lack access to both help and support
• Feelings of relatedness are enhanced

  When individuals are respected and cared for by others and are part of an inclusive environment
• Feelings of relatedness are undermined


  By competition with others, cliques, and criticism from others
• Autonomy


  • Need to feel self-governing and independent
• Autonomy


  The ability to feel in control of one's behaviour and destiny and involves self-initiation and self-regulation of one's behaviour
• Autonomy involves


  Being able to make your own decisions and is associated with feelings of independence
• Feelings of autonomy are enhanced


  When individuals are given a choice and can govern their behaviour, and when other people acknowledge their feelings
• The individual lacks autonomy


  If they feel controlled or threatened by others, or have to operate according to deadlines
• Tangible rewards


  Can also reduce feelings of autonomy
• If one were to give someone an extrinsic reward for already intrinsically motivated behaviour

  The likelihood that autonomy is undermined is fairly large
• As the behaviour becomes increasingly controlled by external rewards rather than by autonomy


  Intrinsic motivation is diminished, and people start to feel both a different source for their motivation and less belief in their personal qualities