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Psychological Needs: Autonomy & Choice

Chapter 6, Part 1
January 27, 2016

Framework for understanding psychological needs:

Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan)

Psychological needs represent the nutriments

essential to a living organisms
psychological growth, integrity, and health

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Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

Fundamental
Psychological Needs

Autonomy

Competence

Relatedness

To be the causal agent

in ones own life
and act in concordance
with the self

To effectively bring
about desired
outcomes and
experience mastery

To interact, connect,
and be close to
significant others

These three needs provide natural (intrinsic) mo5va5on

for learning, growing, and developing

Psychological Need

An inherent (i.e., innate, universal) source of mo1va1on
that generates the desire to interact with the environment
so as to advance personal growth,
social development, and psychological well-being.

We are interested in ac1vi1es that involve our psychological needs
and we experience enjoyment when these needs are fullled.

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SDT: The organism in its environment

Humans are inherently motivated towards positive growth.

To actualize this potential, we need nurturing from the environment.

The Person-Environment Interaction is two-way:
Needs motivate us to engage w environment in particular ways
Environment supports or frustrates our needs

Engaging and satisfying our psychological needs creates growth
and well-being.

Need for Autonomy

Autonomy is the psychological need to

experience self-direction and personal
endorsement in the initiation and regulation of
ones behavior.

Our behaviour is autonomous when our ac1ons are governed by our

own interests, preferences, desires, values, etc.

Self-Determina1on

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Qualities associated with autonomy

Perceived Autonomy

Internal
Locus of Causality

(feeling free)

Choice
over ones actions

self as cause of
actions

unpressured
willingness to engage

decision-making
flexibility

Volition

Is it possible to have full autonomy?

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A word about choice

Not all choices are created equal
Either-or (forced choice) situations often do not enhance
perceived autonomy
True, meaningful choices over actions that reflect values
and interests are the best

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The subjective experience of autonomy

Perceived
Autonomy

Cogni1ve

Authorship &
Control

Endorsement
& Value

Emo1onal

Interest

direc&on

Enjoyment

energy
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Consequences of Autonomously Motivated Behaviour

When people have higher perceived autonomy in a given
task, they are:
More creative, better at problem solving, demonstrate
deeper learning, perform at a higher level, experience more
positive emotions, etc.
When people have higher perceived autonomy in general,
they have:
Better psychological and physical health

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Whats your interpersonal motivating style?

Autonomy Supportive:

Controlling:

Values personal growth

opportunities

Values predetermined
correct outcome

identifying, nurturing, and

developing anothers inner
motivational resources

pressuring another toward

compliance with a
prescribed way of being

Yay J

Boo L

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Supporting the Autonomy of Others

Encourage engagement by taking their perspec1ve

Provide choice; consider preferences
Promote valuing by communica1ng worth, importance, meaning
Communicate informa1onally; give good reasons
Listen carefully and acknowledge their reac1ons
Be pa1ent; accept nega1ve aect

Work collabora5vely
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Dont ask how you can mo&vate other people.
Instead, ask how you can create the condi&ons
within which other people will mo&vate
themselves.
The answer is autonomy support.
Bolstering this psychological need is actually the
most powerful way to boost mo&va&on in self
and others.

- Ed Deci

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Small Group Activity

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