The development of the five mini-theories of self-determination theory: an historical overview, emerging trends, and future directions

Self-determination theory is a macro-theory of human motivation, emotion, and personality that has been under development for 40 years following the seminal work of Edward Deci and Richard Ryan. Self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985b, 2000; Niemiec, Ryan, & Deci, in press; Ryan & Deci, 2000; Vansteenkiste, Ryan, & Deci, 2008) has been advanced in a cumulative, research-driven manner, as new ideas have been naturally and steadily integrated into the theory following sufficient empirical support, which has helped SDT maintain its internal consistency. To use a metaphor, the development of SDT is similar to the construction of a puzzle. Over the years, new pieces have been added to the theory once their fit was determined. At present, dozens of scholars throughout the world continue to add their piece to the ‘‘SDT puzzle,’’ and hundreds of practitioners working with all age groups, and in various domains and cultures, have used SDT to inform their practice. Herein, we provide an historical overview of the development of the five mini-theories (viz., cognitive evaluation theory, organismic integration theory, causality orientations theory, basic needs theory, and goal content theory) that constitute SDT, discuss emerging trends within those mini-theories, elucidate similarities with and differences from other theoretical frameworks, and suggest directions for future researc

Self‐tracking in effortful activities: Gender differences in consumers' task experience

Despite the increasing use of self‐tracking technologies, surprisingly little empirical research has examined the effect of self‐tracking in effortful activities on consumers' task experience. Accordingly, the present research examined the moderating role of gender in the effect of self‐tracking in effortful activities on perceived competence and task experience (namely, enjoyment and subjective vitality). Across three experiments, results suggested that self‐tracking in effortful activities increases the perceived competence, enjoyment, and subjective vitality of females more than males, and that perceived competence explains these interaction effects. Interestingly, an experimental manipulation designed to prompt overestimation of abilities attenuated these positive effects among females. As such, the present research contributes to the literatures on self‐tracking and feedback instrumentality, and offers important practical implications for marketers.publishedVersio

Self-determination theory in schools of education: Can an empirically supported framework also be critical and liberating?

In many graduate schools of education there is strong resistance to formal theories, especially those that are supported through quantitative empirical methods. In this article we describe how self-determination theory (SDT), a formal and empirically focused framework, shares sensibilities with critical theorists concerning the importance of actors' own embedded experiences of the world, and the importance of liberation and resistance to hegemony. Yet we argue that, unlike many post-modern views that are largely negative, SDT is truly critical precisely because it posits a common human nature, which can be more or less supported and allowed to flourish in different cultural and institutional contexts

Should parental prohibition of adolescents' peer relationships be prohibited?

Research has revealed inconsistent associations between parents' prohibition of peer relationships and adolescents' deviant peer affiliation. This cross-sectional study examined parents' styles of prohibition to test the hypothesis that an autonomy-supportive style would relate negatively, whereas a controlling style would relate positively, to deviant peer affiliation. Such relations were expected because of the differential relations of styles of prohibition to adolescents' internalization of parental rules for friendships. Structural equation modeling provided support for the hypotheses in a sample of 234 Belgian midadolescents (M-age = 16.45 years; 65% female), as the differential relations of autonomy-supportive and controlling styles of prohibition to deviant peer affiliation were mediated by their differential relations to internalization. Implications for research on parental peer management are discussed

Contextual supports for autonomy and the development of high-quality relationships following mutual self-disclosure

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rochester. Dept. of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, 2010.The importance of close, caring, and mutually supportive relationships for the promotion of personal wellness and healthy social functioning is generally accepted within psychology (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). An integral process in the development of high-quality relationships is self-disclosure (Collins & Miller, 1994), which refers to revealing information about oneself to another in a sustained, escalating, and mutual way that gradually increases in depth and breadth (Altman & Taylor, 1973). Of interest is whether the motivational climate in which mutual self-disclosure occurs would affect the development of relationship closeness between strangers. Guided by self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000; Niemiec, Ryan, & Deci, 2010; Ryan & Deci, 2000; Vansteenkiste, Niemiec, & Soenens, in press), the present research addressed this issue by examining whether contextual supports for autonomy (relative to controlling contexts) promote relationship quality following mutual self-disclosure. Autonomy, which literally means self-governance, refers to the experience that behavior is enacted with a sense of ownership, volition, and reflective self-endorsement. Operationalizing the provision versus deprivation of autonomy in several ways and using a variety of self-reported and behavioral measures of closeness, the results of four experimental studies provided strong evidence to suggest that contextual supports for autonomy affect the development of high-quality relationships following mutual self-disclosure. Specifically, receipt of a monetary reward (relative to no reward; Studies 1 and 4) and ego-involvement (relative to task involvement; Study 3) had adverse effects on both self-reported and behavioral measures of relationship quality following mutual self-disclosure, whereas provision of choice (relative to no choice; Study 2) had a salubrious effect on relationship well-being. In line with the tenets of SDT, autonomy need satisfaction experienced during the mutual self-disclosure task either partially or fully explained (mediated) several of the effects of experimental condition on relational wellness. Such findings support the SDT claim that the basic psychological needs for autonomy and relatedness are complementary and, indeed, fundamental to motivation (Ryan & Powelson, 1991) and the development of authentic relationships (Ryan, 1991)

The path taken: Consequences of attaining intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations in post-college life

Life goals, or aspirations, organize and direct behavior over extended periods of time. The current study, guided by self-determination theory, examined the consequences of pursuing and attaining aspirations over a 1-year period in a post-college sample. Results indicated that placing importance on either intrinsic or extrinsic aspirations related positively to attainment of those goals. Yet, whereas attainment of intrinsic aspirations related positively to psychological health, attainment of extrinsic aspirations did not; indeed, attainment of extrinsic aspirations related positively to indicators of ill-being. Also as predicted, the association between change in attainment of intrinsic aspirations and change in psychological health was mediated by change in the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Discussion focuses on the idea that not all goal attainment is beneficial; rather, attainment of aspirations with different contents relates differentially to psychological health