Self-Determination Theory
Deci, Ryan · 1985 · SDT
Summary
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) posits three universal psychological needs — autonomy (volition), competence (effectiveness), and relatedness (connection) — whose satisfaction supports intrinsic motivation and psychological well-being. SDT distinguishes autonomous motivation (intrinsic + identified regulation) from controlled motivation (introjected + external regulation) and predicts qualitatively different outcomes for each. In organizational settings, SDT underwrites the empirical case that autonomy-supportive leadership, mastery-oriented feedback, and inclusive climate produce higher engagement and well-being than controlling alternatives.
Canonical constructs
- construct.autonomy_need (unresolved)
- construct.competence_need (unresolved)
- construct.relatedness_need (unresolved)
- Intrinsic motivation
- construct.extrinsic_motivation (unresolved)
- construct.psychological_wellbeing (unresolved)
- Work Engagement
Canonical relations
| From | Predicate | To | Central | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| construct.autonomy_need | predicts | construct.intrinsic_motivation | yes | |
| construct.competence_need | predicts | construct.intrinsic_motivation | yes | |
| construct.relatedness_need | predicts | construct.intrinsic_motivation | yes | |
| construct.intrinsic_motivation | predicts | construct.psychological_wellbeing | yes | |
| construct.intrinsic_motivation | predicts | construct.work_engagement | yes |
Synthesized priors (where available) live under /registry/priors/{from}/{predicate}/{to}.
Related theories
Theories sharing one or more canonical constructs with this one.
Foundational citations
Citation ids referenced (2) — not yet resolved to citation records.