The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior

TLDR

Self‑determination theory posits that human motivation hinges on innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. The authors aim to examine how SDT’s basic needs relate to prior need theories and to hypothesize that different regulatory processes and goal contents are differentially linked to functioning, well‑being, behavior quality, and mental health through varying degrees of need satisfaction. The study discusses SDT’s basic needs in relation to prior need theories, cultural values, evolutionary processes, and contemporary motivation theories. Findings show that contexts and individual differences that satisfy basic needs promote intrinsic motivation, integration of extrinsic motives, and well‑being, while thwarting needs leads to poorer motivation, performance, and well‑being.

Abstract

Abstract Self-determination theory (SDT) maintains that an understanding of human motivation requires a consideration of innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. We discuss the SDT concept of needs as it relates to previous need theories, emphasizing that needs specify the necessary conditions for psychological growth, integrity, and well-being. This concept of needs leads to the hypotheses that different regulatory processes underlying goal pursuits are differentially associated with effective functioning and well-being and also that different goal contents have different relations to the quality of behavior and mental health, specifically because different regulatory processes and different goal contents are associated with differing degrees of need satisfaction. Social contexts and individual differences that support satisfaction of the basic needs facilitate natural growth processes including intrinsically motivated behavior and integration of extrinsic motivations, whereas those that forestall autonomy, competence, or relatedness are associated with poorer motivation, performance, and well-being. We also discuss the relation of the psychological needs to cultural values, evolutionary processes, and other contemporary motivation theories.