Skip to main content

Self-Determination Theory

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Development of Self-Determination Through the Life-Course

Abstract

This chapter provides an introduction to Self-Determination Theory, a macro-theory that details the origins and outcomes of human agentic action. Basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness in Self-Determination Theory are introduced as is the relationship of need satisfaction to intrinsic motivation and the regulation of extrinsic motivation. Mini-theories associated with self-determination are introduced, and research on self-determination summarized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bartholomew, K. J., Ntoumanis, N., Ryan, R. M., & Thogersen-Ntoumani, C. (2011). Psychological need thwarting in the sport context: Assessing the darker sides of athletic experience. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 33, 75–102.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, C., & Bozeman, B. (2013). Understanding public and nonprofit managers’ motivation through the lens of self-determination theory. Public Management Review, 15(4), 584–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curran, T., Hill, A. P., & Niemiec, C. P. (2013). A conditional process model of children’s behavioral engagement and behavioral disaffection in sport based on self-determination theory. Journal Of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 35(1), 30–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Charms, R. (1968). Personal causation: The internal affective determinants of behaviour. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Charms, R. (1972). Personal causation training in the schools. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2, 95–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L. (1971). Effects of externally mediated rewards on intrinsic motivation. Journal of Personality Psychology, 18, 105–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1980). The empirical exploration of intrinsic motivational processes. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 13, pp. 39–80). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985a). The general causality orientations scale: Self-determination in personality. Journal of Research in Personality, 19, 109–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985b). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2008). Facilitating optimal motivation and psychological well-being across life’s domains. Canadian Psychology, 49, 14–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). Motivation, personality, and development within embedded social contexts: An overview of self-determination theory. In R. M. Ryan (Ed.), Oxford handbook of human motivation (pp. 85–107). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2014). Autonomy and need satisfaction in close relationships: Relationships motivation theory. In N. Weinstein (Ed.), Human motivation and interpersonal relationships: Theory, research and applications (pp. 53–73). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • 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. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.125.6.627.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M., & Guay, F. (2013). Self-determination theory and actualization of human potentials. In D. M. McInerney, H. W. Marsh, R. G. Craven, F. Guay, & D. M. McInerney (Eds.), Theory driving research: New wave perspectives on self-processes and human development (pp. 109–133). Charlotte: Information Age Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gourlan, M., Sarrazin, P., & Trouilloud, D. (2013). Motivational interviewing as a way to promote physical activity in obese adolescents: A randomised-controlled trial using self-determination theory as an explanatory framework. Psychology & Health, 28(11), 1265–1286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasser, T., & Ryan, R. M. (1996). Further examining the American dream: Differential correlates of intrinsic and extrinsic goals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22, 280–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Guardia, J. G., Ryan, R. M., Couchman, C., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Within-person variations in attachment style and their relations to psychological need satisfaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 367–384.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ng, J. Y., Ntoumanis, N., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M., Duda, J. L., & Williams, G. C. (2012). Self-determination theory applied to health contexts: A meta-analysis. Perspectives On Psychological Science, 7(4), 325–340. doi:10.1177/1745691612447309.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, E. J., Markland, D., & Hardy, J. (2010). Interpretation of self-talk and post-lecture affective states of higher education students: A self-determination theory perspective. British Journal Of Educational Psychology, 80(2), 307–323.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, G., Assor, A., Niemiec, C. P., Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2009). The emotional and academic consequences of parental conditional regard: Comparing conditional positive regard, conditional negative regard, and autonomy support as parenting practices. Developmental Psychology, 45, 1119–1142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M. (1995). Psychological needs and the facilitation of integrative processes. Journal of Personality, 63, 397–427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2011). A self-determination theory perspective on social, institutional, cultural, and economic supports for autonomy and their importance for well-being. In V. I. Chirkov, R. M. Ryan, & K. M. Sheldon (Eds.), Human autonomy in cross-cultural context (pp. 45–64). New York: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-90-481-9667-8_3.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., Kasser, T., Sheldon, K. M., & Deci, E. L. (1996). All goals are not created equal: An organismic perspective on the nature of goals and their regulation. In P. M. Gollwitzer, J. A. Bargh, P. M. Gollwitzer, & J. A. Bargh (Eds.), The psychology of action (pp. 7–26). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., Chirkov, V. I., Little, T. D., Sheldon, K. M., Timoshina, E., & Deci, E. L. (1999). The American dream in Russian: Extrinsic aspirations and well-being in two cultures. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25, 1509–1524. doi:10.1177/01461672992510007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., Patrick, H., Deci, E. L., & Williams, G. C. (2008). Facilitating health behaviour change and its maintenance: Interventions based on self-determination theory. European Health Psychologist, 10, 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., Bernstein, J. H., & Brown, K. W. (2010). Weekends, work, and well-being: Psychological need satisfactions and day of the week effects on mood, vitality, and physical symptoms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 29, 95–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saebu, M., Sørensen, M., & Halvari, H. (2013). Motivation for physical activity in young adults with physical disabilities during a rehabilitation stay: A longitudinal test of self-determination theory. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 43(3), 612–625. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2013.01042.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vansteenkiste, M., & Ryan, R. M. (2013). On psychological growth and vulnerability: Basic psychological need satisfaction and need frustration as a unifying principle. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 23(3), 263–280. doi:10.1037/a0032359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vansteenkiste, M., Niemiec, C., & Soenens, B. (2010). The development of the five mini-theories of self-determination theory: An historical overview, emerging trends, and future directions. In T. Urdan & S. Karabenick (Eds.), Advances in motivation and achievement, vol. 16: The decade ahead. Bingley: Emerald Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vansteenkiste, M., Williams, G. C., & Resnicow, K. (2012). Toward systematic integration between self-determination theory and motivational interviewing as examples of top-down and bottom-up intervention development: Autonomy or volition as a fundamental theoretical principle. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9, 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vansteenkiste, M., Claes, L., Soenens, B., & Verstuyf, J. (2013). Motivational dynamics among eating-disordered patients with and without nonsuicidal self-injury: A self-determination theory approach. European Eating Disorders Review, 21(3), 209–214. doi:10.1002/erv.2215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. J., Koh, K. T., Biddle, S. H., Liu, W. C., & Chye, S. (2011). Physical activity patterns and psychological correlates of physical activity among Singaporean primary, secondary, and junior college students. Journal Of Research In Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport & Dance, 6(2), 3–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, B. (1990). History of motivational research in education. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(4), 616–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, R. W. (1959). Motivation reconsidered: The concept of competence. Psychological Review, 66, 297–331.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicole Adams .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Adams, N., Little, T.D., Ryan, R.M. (2017). Self-Determination Theory. In: Wehmeyer, M., Shogren, K., Little, T., Lopez, S. (eds) Development of Self-Determination Through the Life-Course. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1042-6_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics