Three basic needs
The theory names autonomy, the sense of acting by one's own choice; competence, the sense of being effective; and relatedness, the sense of connection with others. Settings that support these needs are predicted to foster persistence and wellbeing, while settings that frustrate them are predicted to do the opposite.
Kinds of motivation
The theory separates intrinsic motivation, doing something because it is interesting, from extrinsic motivation, which ranges from pure external control to goals a person has fully taken on as their own. A well-known and debated claim is that tangible rewards offered for doing a task can undermine intrinsic interest.
Evidence and debate
The framework has been applied widely in education, health and work. Critics argue that the undermining effect depends heavily on how rewards are given, and that some of the theory's constructs are difficult to separate in measurement. Debate also continues over how universal the three needs are across cultures.
Further reading
- Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The 'what' and 'why' of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227-268.
- Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 68-78.
- Deci, E. L., Koestner, R., & Ryan, R. M. (1999). A meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 627-668.