Self-Determination Theory (SDT)
Core Definition: A foundational motivational theory of personality, development, and social processes. It examines how social contexts and individual differences facilitate autonomous vs. controlled motivation, directly predicting learning, performance, experience, and overall psychological health.
The Three Basic Psychological Needs
SDT proposes that all human beings require the satisfaction of three universal psychological needs. These act as essential "nutrients" for effective functioning and wellness:
- Autonomy: The need to feel in control of one's own behaviors, choices, and goals.
- Competence: The need to feel effective, master tasks, and experience personal growth.
- Relatedness: The need to feel a sense of belonging, attachment, and connection to others.
Self-determination Theory (SDT) is a motivational theory of personality, development, and social processes that examines how social contexts and individual differences facilitate different types of motivation, especially autonomous motivation and controlled motivation, and in turn predict learning, performance, experience, and psychological health. SDT proposes that all human beings have three basic psychological needs – the needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness – the satisfaction of which are essential nutrients for effective functioning and wellness. Satisfaction of these basic needs promotes the optimal motivational traits and states of autonomous motivation and intrinsic aspirations, which facilitate psychological health and effective engagement with the world.
The Motivational Spectrum
- Autonomous Motivation: Driven by internal alignment, personal values, and intrinsic aspirations. Promoted directly by satisfying the three basic needs.
- Controlled Motivation: Driven by external pressures, rewards, punishments, or internal guilt.
Key Outcome
When these basic needs are met, individuals develop optimal motivational states and intrinsic aspirations. This facilitates psychological health, resilience, and highly effective engagement with the world.