Self-determination theory: what is it and what does it propose?

A point of view in which the study of motivation is fundamental.

The human being is, by definition, an active being: we are continuously carrying out a wide variety of behaviors in order to stay alive, adapt to the environment or develop in such a way that we can cope with the vicissitudes and needs that arise throughout our life cycle. We use the means at our disposal, both internally and those available in the environment, in order to act.

But... why do we act, what moves us? These seemingly simple questions have led to the development of a great diversity of theories as to what it is that moves us to act. One of these theories, which in reality brings together a series of sub-theories in this regard, is the theory of self-determination. It is about the latter that we are going to talk about in this article.

The theory of self-determination: what does it tell us?

It receives the name of theory of the self-determination to a macro-theory elaborated mainly by Decí and Ryan which tries to establish to what extent the human conduct is influenced by different factors that affect our motivation to act. factors that affect our motivation to actThe main objective of self-determination theory is to establish the extent to which human behavior is influenced by different factors that affect our motivation to act, with special emphasis on the idea of self-determination or the ability to decide voluntarily what and how to do it as a fundamental explanatory element.

The main objective of the theory of self-determination is to understand human behavior in such a way that such knowledge can be generalized to all situations that human beings of all cultures may encounter, and may affect any field, sphere or domain of life.

In this sense, this theory focuses on motivation as the main element to be analyzed.It values the existence of an accumulation of energy generated by different human needs that will later acquire a direction or orientation towards the satisfaction of these needs.

It must be taken into account that in this sense the following are of great importance the personality and the Biological and autobiographical elements of the person in question, the context in which he/she moves, the context in which he/she moves, and the context in which he/she lives.The context in which his or her behavior takes place and the concrete situation in which it is carried out are elements that influence each other and affect the possible appearance of different types of motivation.

Self-determination would be the degree to which we ourselves voluntarily direct our behavior through increasingly internal forces, the motivation being more and more our own will and our own desire to perform the behavior rather than being mediated by environmental elements that make it necessary to perform the action. We are active beings that tend to developWe are active beings who tend to develop, grow and seek and integrate the perceived experience both at the level of external and internal elements, since all this will allow us now and in the future to have the resources to satisfy our needs. It is therefore important what comes to us from the environment as well as what is innate and impulsive.

This is a theory that integrates and is based on the conceptions of different psychological paradigms, among which the behavioral and humanistic ones stand out. On the one hand, a search for rigorous and scientific information that explains the mechanisms by which we direct our behavior towards the achievement of a motivating goal (similar to the behaviorist approach) is maintained, and on the other hand, we are acquiring a vision of the human being as an active being, directed towards purposes and goals. acquiring the vision of the human being as an active entity and directed towards purposes and goals, characteristic of humanistic psychology. of humanistic psychology.

It should also be noted that this theory has applicability in almost all areas, since motivation is something necessary for the implementation of any type of activity: from academic training and work to leisure, through interpersonal relationships.

Five major sub-theories

As mentioned above, self-determination theory can be identified as a macro-theory aimed at investigating the functioning of motivation as it relates to the determination of one's own behavior. This implies that the theory itself is made up of a set of different sub-theories interrelated in order to work on the topic of motivation and self-determination. These sub-theories are mainly the following five.

1. Theory of basic psychological needs

One of the main theories that make up the theory of self-determination is that of basic psychological needs. These needs refer to psychic constructs that human beings need in order to feel motivated to behave, leaving aside purely physiological components (such as the need to eat or drink). The different studies carried out within this approach have determined the existence of at least three types of basic psychological needs that explain human behavior. at least three types of basic psychological needs that explain human behavior: the need for autonomy, the need for self-competence and the need for bonding or relationship.The first of these, autonomy, refers to the need for autonomy, the need for self-competence and the need for bonding or relationship.

The first of these, autonomy, refers to the need of human beings (and other beings) to know or consider themselves as beings capable of influencing their own life or reality through their behavior. This need implies that the subject sees his actions as something that has a real and palpable effect, that he is capable of exercising his will with a certain control over what he does and what it entails: it is more than anything else the need to feel free to choose. It is fundamental in the emergence of a personal identity.In cases where this is not fully developed, passivity and dependency behaviors may appear, as well as feelings of uselessness and hopelessness.

The need to perceive one's own competence is basically linked to the previous one, in the sense that it is based on the ability to control what happens based on one's own actions, but in this case it is centered on the belief that we have sufficient resources to carry out a behavior. It is the belief that we are capable and the feeling that we are skillful.that the action we have chosen to perform autonomously will be able to be carried out successfully thanks to our ability and have a certain impact on what happens.

Finally, the need for relationship or bonding is a constant in gregarious beings such as human beings: we need to feel part of a group, with whom we can interact in a positive way and establish relationships of mutual support.

2. Theory of causal orientations

Another fundamental element of the theory of self-determination is the theory of causal orientations, which seeks to elucidate what moves us or in what direction we direct our efforts. In this sense, the theory establishes the existence of three main types of motivation: intrinsic or autonomous, extrinsic or controlled, and impersonal or unmotivated.

In the case of intrinsic or autonomous motivation, this represents the force that motivates us in such a way that the performance comes from internal forces. comes from internal forcesIn the case of intrinsic or autonomous motivation, this represents the force that motivates us in such a way that the action comes from internal forces, the behavior being carried out due to the pleasure of doing it. It starts from a moment in which all the basic needs mentioned above are well resolved, a moment in which we act solely on the basis of our will and choice. This is the type of motivation that involves a higher degree of self-determination and is more closely linked to psychological well-being.

Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, arises from a lack of satisfaction of some of the psychological or physiological needs which are intended to be satisfied by performing the behavior. We are dealing with an action that is carried out because it will allow or facilitate a reduction of a state of lack. Generally the behavior is considered as controlled in order to satisfy the need.. Although there is some self-determination, this is present to a lesser degree than in intrinsic motivation.

Finally, impersonal motivation or demotivation is that which derives from the feeling of lack of competence and autonomy: we believe that our actions do not predict possible changes and do not have an effect on reality, not being able to control what happens to us or reality. All needs have been frustrated, leading to hopelessness and lack of motivation.

3. Cognitive appraisal theory

The third of the sub-theories that make up the theory of self-determination, in this case it is based on the premise that the existence of innate interests of the human being, receiving the events that occur in the environment (whether external or internal) a different assessment at a cognitive level and generating different degrees of motivation.

The subject's life experience participates in this, as well as the history of learning about the consequences and effects of his or her actions in the environment. These interests are analyzed in order to explain the differences in the levels of intrinsic motivation.The study also assesses how extrinsic motivation is affected or what aspects or phenomena favor a decrease in motivation. This interest is also derived from the perception of how interaction with the world allows or does not allow the achievement of basic needs.

In conclusion, we can determine that the theory of cognitive evaluation establishes that the main elements that predict our interest in the different aspects of reality are the sensation and attribution of control that we make, the perceived competence, the orientation of the motivation (whether it is to achieve something or not) and the situation or external factors.

4. Organic integration theory

The organic integration theory is a proposal that seeks to analyze the degree and manner in which different types of extrinsic motivation exist, depending on the degree of internalization or assimilation of the regulation of one's own behavior..

This internalization, whose development will gradually generate the capacity for motivation to stop depending on external elements and give rise to intrinsic motivation, will emerge throughout the development of the self on the basis of the acquisition of values and social norms. In this sense, four main types of extrinsic motivation can be distinguished according to the type of behavioral regulation that takes place.

In the first place we have external regulationin which we act in order to obtain a reward or to avoid harm or punishment, the behavior being totally directed and controlled by the outside.

With a slightly more internalized regulation, extrinsic motivation by introjected regulation occurs when, despite the fact that the behavior is still carried out to obtain rewards or avoid punishments, the administration or avoidance of these rewards or punishments occurs at an internal level, not depending on what external agents carry out.

Behind it we can find the extrinsic motivation by identified regulationIn this case, they begin to give a value of their own to the activities performed (although they are still carried out in search/avoidance of rewards/punishments).

The fourth and last one, very close to the intrinsic regulation of the motivation of the same name but still governed by external elements, is the extrinsic motivation that arises from integrated regulation. In this case, the behavior is seen as positive and favorable for the person in itself and without valuing rewards or punishments, but it is still not done because it generates enjoyment for its own sake.

5. Theory of the content of goals

Finally, and although different authors do not incorporate it into the theory of self-determination, another of the most relevant theories that have an impact on it is the theory of goal content. In this sense, as in motivation, we find intrinsic and extrinsic goals. The former are based on the pursuit of psychological well-being and personal development.The former are based on the pursuit of psychological well-being and personal development, consisting mainly of goals of personal growth, affiliation, health and contribution to the community or generativity.

Extrinsic goals are those that are intrinsic and aimed at obtaining something from outside the person and are dependent on the environment: mainly we find needs of appearance, economic/financial success and fame/social consideration. Now, the fact that a goal is intrinsic or extrinsic does not imply that the motivation that leads us to it is necessarily the one that shares its adjective: it is possible to have intrinsic motivation to obtain extrinsic goals or vice versa.

Bibliographical references:

• Ryan, R.M. & Deci, E.L. (2000). Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being. American Psychologist, 55 (1): 68-78.
• Stover, J.B., Bruno, F.E., Uriel, F.E., & Liporace, M.F. (2017). Self-determination theory: a theoretical review. Perspectives in psychology, 14 (2).