Self Determination Theory

The Idea of Freedom to Pick

   Self-Determination Theory (SDT) was created by scientists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan as a general way to understand what makes people act and behave the way they do. It began in the 1980s and has been grown ever since. In SDT, there is a difference between intrinsic and extrinsic drive. Extrinsic motivation is doing something because you need to, like getting a prize or keeping out of trouble. Intrinsic motivation is doing something because you enjoy it. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) says that everyone has three basic psychological needs that, when met, make them most motivated, happy, and growing: autonomy (the feeling of having free will and choosing what to do); competence (the feeling of being able to handle problems well); and relatedness (the feeling of being connected to and belonging with others). When these needs are met, people are more likely to be driven and do things that really get them excited. Students are more likely to want to study on their own if the teacher gives them lots of options (autonomy support), gives them tasks that are just right for them and gives them good feedback (competence support), and makes them feel like they are part of a group (relatedness support). But places that limit or block needs, like strict surveillance that takes away freedom, too much criticism that takes away competence, or social exclusion that takes away connection, may make people less motivated, less engaged, or act in a way that is only influenced by pressure and motivation from outside sources.

Extrinsic motivation is broken down by SDT into different stages of internalization. External regulation is the lowest level. At this level, people only do things to get benefits or stay out of trouble. The next stages are identified and introjected regulation, and finally integrated regulation, which means that one's actions are in line with their beliefs. A lot of people in the real world have supported SDT over the years. It has been found that people are more motivated, perform better, and feel better emotionally when their basic needs are met. This is true in a lot of places and situations, like school, work, sports, health care, and more. Employees are more likely to be active and happy at work if they are given the chance to learn new skills, given a voice, and encouraged to respect and work together. SDT is based on the idea that benefits aren't the only way to get people to do something. Also, they should make sure that people will support and value what they do. SDT is a broad approach that has been used to make solutions in many areas, from parenting and teaching to public policy. These interventions focus on making people feel more autonomous, competent, and connected in order to get them to be more self-motivated and keep it up. It gives us a more complete picture of what makes people do what they do. To feel good, grow, and grow, people need to have their basic psychological needs met. Not getting what they want, on the other hand, can make them less driven and hurt their mental health.

   Sources:

(selfdeterminationtheory.org).