Abstract
Self-determination theory (SDT) maintains that an understanding of human motivation requires a consideration of innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. We discuss the SDT concept of needs as it relates to previous need theories, emphasizing that needs specify the necessary conditions for psychological growth, integrity, and well-being. This concept of needs leads to the hypotheses that different regulatory processes underlying goal pursuits are differentially associated with effective functioning and well-being and also that different goal contents have different relations to the quality of behavior and mental health, specifically because different regulatory processes and different goal contents are associated with differing degrees of need satisfaction. Social contexts and individual differences that support satisfaction of the basic needs facilitate natural growth processes including intrinsically motivated behavior and integration of extrinsic motivations, whereas those that forestall autonomy, competence, or relatedness are associated with poorer motivation, performance, and well-being. We also discuss the relation of the psychological needs to cultural values, evolutionary processes, and other contemporary motivation theories.
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Psychological Inquiry is an international forum for the discussion of theory and meta-theory. The journal strives to publish articles that represent broad, provocative, and debatable theoretical ideas primarily in the areas of social psychology and personality. We discourage submission of purely empirical, applied, or review articles. Each issue typically includes a target article followed by peer commentaries and a response from the target author. Manuscripts for the target articles can be invited or submitted. Manuscripts for the commentaries are always invited. Authors for the commentaries are chosen by the editors with input from the target authors.
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Across4. negative changes in thoughts, emotions, and behavior as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.-burnout6. psychological experience of being pulled toward or drawn to two or more desires or goals, only one of which may be attained.-conflict8. psychological defense mechanism in which emotional reactions and behavioral responses are shifted to targets that are more available or less threatening than the original target.-displacement10. people who expect positive outcomes.-optimists12. leaving the presence of a stressor, either literally or by a psychological withdrawal into fantasy, drug abuse, or apathy.-escape17. psychological defense mechanism in which the person invents acceptable excuses for unacceptable behavior.-rationalization19. events that cause a stress reaction.-stressors20. psychological defense mechanism in which unacceptable or threatening impulses or feelings are seen as originating with someone else, usually the target of the impulses or feelings.-projection21. psychological defense mechanism in which the person refuses to consciously remember a threatening or unacceptable event, instead pushing those events into the unconscious mind.-repression24. an unpredictable, large-scale event that creates a tremendous need to adapt and adjust as well as overwhelming feelings of threat.-catastropheDown1. defense mechanism in which a person tries to become like someone else to deal with anxiety.-identification2. people who expect negative outcomes.-pessimists3. the effect of positive events, or the optimal amount of stress that people need to promote health and well-being.-eustress5. the study of the effects of psychological factors such as stress, emotions, thoughts, and behavior on the immune system.-psychoneuroimmunology7. the effect of unpleasant and undesirable stressors.-distress9. mental series of exercises meant to refocus attention and achieve a trance-like state of consciousness.-medication