Self-determination
theory (SDT) is an empirically based theory of motivation and psychological
development that is especially focused on the basic psychological needs that
promote high quality motivation and wellness, and how they are supported in
social contexts. SDT details how the styles and strategies of motivators such
as parents, teachers, coaches, managers, and health-care professionals can
promote or undermine engagement and the positive consequences that follow from
it.
In this course, Professor Richard Ryan, co-founder of the theory, will provide
an overview of SDT with special emphasis on how autonomy, competence, and
relatedness supports and facilitates behavioral persistence, quality of
relationships, and healthy developmental processes, among other topics. He will
also discuss the convergence of behavioral phenomenological and
neuropsychological aspects of autonomy within SDT research. In addition, he will
illustrate practical applications of SDT, with emphasis on educational, work,
sport, healthcare and psychotherapy settings.
Syllabus
· Week 1
o The first module of
this course begins with an introduction and overview of Self-Determination
Theory (SDT). This includes a discussion of the basic and historical principles
of SDT as well as definitions of key terms. Module 1 continues with an
introduction to one of SDT’s mini-theories, Cognitive Evaluation Theory (CET)
and the core concept of intrinsic motivation. The impact of rewards on
intrinsic motivation and the role of intrinsic motivation in video gaming are
also discussed.
· Week 2
o Week 2 focuses on two
additional mini-theories within SDT: Organismic Integration Theory (OIT) and
Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT). The first four lectures in this module
discuss OIT —describing the different types of motivation, organizing them
along the continuum of relative autonomy, discussing what is meant by
internalization, and describing the factors that facilitate and undermine
autonomous motivation and internalization. Additionally, lectures in this
module cover well-being and basic psychological needs theory (BPNT)—delving
into what these basic needs are and providing evidence for their importance to
well-being across cultures and in explaining day-to-day variations in
happiness.
· Week 3
o Week 3 delves deeper
into people’s well-being and life goals…examining what makes us happier from
one day to the next. The second lecture in this module introduces Goal Contents
Theory (GTC), or the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic life goals on
well-being. These lectures focus on how the pursuit of goals like money, fame,
and image is associated with poor well-being even when these goals are
achieved. Lectures in this module also center on mindfulness and the role of
awareness in cultivating autonomy and on vitality -- or the energy available to
the self, a central component of well-being and the role of nature in
supporting vitality.
· Week 4
o Module 4 focuses on
the importance of basic psychological need fulfillment in several areas of
life. The first lecture covers research demonstrating that doing good for
others and contributing to one’s community are associated with greater
well-being. The next lecture centers on one of the most important ingredients
to well-being -- meaningful relationships and the fundamental importance of
psychological need support to building quality relationships. Next, discussion
turns to some of the most formative relations in one’s life -- the relation between
parents and children. This lecture covers research demonstrating that need
support from parents is associated with optimal growth and development in
children. The next lecture focuses on the process of identity formation, or how
one comes to understand and develop one’s identities, roles, and interests.
Also, in this module, a lecture dedicated to the application of SDT to
education. Specifically, this lecture covers the importance of motivation to
learning and how teacher styles impact students’ motivation and learning
outcomes. Finally, the last lecture examines work and organizations and
discusses how need support from managers and the work environment impacts
outcomes like retention, job satisfaction, corporate citizenship, and work
engagement.
· Week 5
o Module 5 focuses on
the application of SDT in several different domains. The first lecture covers
SDT’s application in the healthcare domain, including motivational predictors
of weight loss, medication adherence, smoking cessation, and dental hygiene.
The next lecture focuses on mental health and the importance of basic need
support in psychotherapy, including examples of how therapists can support
their clients’ needs. Next, we turn to the application of SDT to sports again
including examples of research supporting the importance of autonomy support
and how parents and coaches can facilitate athletes’ intrinsic motivation for
sport. The next lecture discusses the ways in which culture influences people’s
motivation and wellness and how culture acts as a pervasive influence on our
need fulfillment. We continue to examine pervasive social influences in the
following lecture by looking at the impacts of political and economic
structures on motivation and need satisfactions…asking questions like how wealth
disparities impact wellness. This will take us to our concluding lecture with
final remarks on the importance of basic psychological need support in
predicting quality motivation and positive outcomes. Last but not least, the
final lecture provides practical takeaways to satisfy your own psychological
needs.
Taught
by
Richard Ryan
