Brick by Brick: The Origins, Development, and Future of Self-Determination Theory

By Richard M. Ryan, Edward L. Deci. Advances in Motivation Science, 2019

462 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Abstract Self-determination theory is a broad and widely applied theory of motivation, personality development, and wellness. The theory began with a narrow focus on intrinsic motivation but has expanded over time to encompass both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and spawned new perspectives on well-being, life-goals, relationship quality, vitality and depletion, and eudaimonia, among other topics. In this overview of SDT, we first discuss the value of broad theory for psychological science. We then describe the strategy behind SDT's development, and the unfolding of its core mini-theories and topical models, from early studies on intrinsic motivation to the enormous body of research being produced today by a global community of SDT scholars. Throughout we highlight evidence for the critical role of supports for autonomy, competence and relatedness in human development and thriving, and the strong practical and translational value of a functionally-focused, and empirically-supported, theoretical framework.

Subfields: Applied Psychology, Safety Research, Social Psychology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/0865b9ec6d6eb01828a7820e148f2fc6e60eb2c1

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In Applied Psychology

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Citations in the corpus

Building a science of motivated persons: Self-determination theory’s empirical approach to human experience and the regulation of behavior. (2021, methodology): “In doing so, SDT has emerged as a broad framework for a truly human science built upon cumulative and convergent evidence (Ryan & Deci, 2019).”
Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness (2017, unknown): “Although the six mini-theories together do not constitute the whole of SDT, most phenomena elucidated within this theoretical tradition can be located within one of these mini-theories (Ryan and Deci 2019).”
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective: Definitions, theory, practices, and future directions (2020, unknown): “…with those of alternative models, even though SDT’s formulations have been derived from a “brick by brick” approach to theory construction, strategically relying on incremental theory expansions, each based in convergent empirical evidence, to avoid errors of commission (Ryan & Deci, 2019).”
Student Motivation and Associated Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis From Self-Determination Theory (2021, background): “For example, SDT research began with a focus on intrinsic motivation, defined as a psychological desire to enact behaviors for the pleasure, satisfaction, or excitement associated with enacting the behavior itself (Ryan & Deci, 2019).”