Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination☆

Abstract

Self-determination in human behavior is based in autonomous motivation, which encompasses both intrinsic motivation and integrated extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation involves doing an activity without the necessity of external prompts or rewards because it is interesting and satisfies the basic psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Extrinsic motivation involves doing an activity because it leads to some separate outcome such as a reward, approval from others, or the avoidance of punishment. Intrinsic motivation is invariantly autonomous, but extrinsic motivation varies in its degree of autonomy. Extrinsic motivation becomes autonomous through the processes of internalization and integration. Both intrinsic motivation and integrated extrinsic motivation can be facilitated in homes, schools, workplace, athletic fields, and clinical settings that are interpersonally supportive—that is, where people's perspectives are acknowledged and they are encouraged to experiment, allowed to try their own solutions to problems, provided with choice, and responded to when they initiate. Under such supportive conditions individuals are more engaged and persistent, perform more effectively, and display higher levels of psychological health and well-being.