Self-determination

Self-determination theory comes from the psychology of motivation which was established by Deci and Ryan, two psychology professors, in the 2000s. Self-determination is a theory on human motivations to complete a task. It is particularly used to understand the motivation of people in companies, schools, or even in activities. In other words, it is self-determination that will govern almost all of our lives.

These human motivations come from three fundamental psychological needs of human beings: the need for autonomy, the need for competence and the need for social relationships.

Need for autonomy

The need for autonomy is the fact of being able to be master and at the origin of one's actions. It is being able to live, fully and consciously, in a chosen way, one's experience. To truly be what we want them to be, our actions must be able to respond to our values. However, they take the environment and our surroundings into consideration. Being autonomous also means being able to take responsibility for the decisions that have been made.

Autonomy allows us to have control of our life, and not let others direct our lives.

Need for skills

The need for competence is to be able to be efficient, and to continually increase the level of difficulty of the tasks that one has to carry out. It highlights fundamental efforts to overcome a challenge or task. We are constantly seeking to implement our knowledge, but also to go beyond to meet higher capabilities. The need for competence is therefore either to reduce the difficulty of the task or to increase one's personal skills.

The fear of failure can sometimes go beyond our need for competence, and create avoidance behavior.

Need for human relations

The need for social relationships is inherent in man. By nature, human beings need to belong to a group to survive. Being comfortable within a group, with sincere and warm relationships reduces the risk of depression and anxiety, thus increasing life expectancy and well-being. We connect with others with the aim of seeking well-being and finding ourselves through others. Feeling warmth and a common interest reassures people and gives them the tools to continue building themselves.

Belonging to a group is not just being part of a circle, it is knowing that others care about us and love us. These relationships must be natural, filled with compassion, acceptance and mutual appreciation.

The more these needs are satisfied, the greater the motivation to complete the task. Conversely, the less these needs are satisfied, the less the person invests in the tasks they have to carry out.

This lower motivation will lead to less commitment on the part of the person, therefore poorer performance and less good learning. Therefore, low motivation for the task leads to physical, behavioral and psychological consequences.

These three fundamental needs have their own characteristics, which define each human being. These needs are innate, that is, they exist in us from the moment we are born. They were not taught to us. Furthermore, they are universal, regardless of our culture, our education or even our age, since they remain throughout our lives.

These needs are the basis of our personality and our evolution in our life. They promote our well-being and conversely, if they are not satisfied, increase our discomfort. They are therefore essential to the development of the person.

There is a hierarchy of motivations like a hierarchy of needs. That is to say, when one motivation is satisfied, another will, little by little, take its place according to the human hierarchical order. It follows an order that goes from no motivation to complete the task to motivation according to our internal values ​​and motivations. This order goes from amotivation to intrinsic motivation.

Motivations follow a well-defined hierarchy, which goes from no motivation to complete the task, to extrinsic motivation, then to intrinsic motivation. Being able to respond to the hierarchy of motivations allows for better engagement of the person, and consequently better learning.

Indeed, if a child understands the reason for having to have an operation, and that it represents something in his life, he will remember it much more easily.

Amotivation

Amotivation is when there is no motivation to respond to the task or challenge. The person feels no interest, no sense of agency in doing this action. We have the impression that we are subject to elements that are beyond our control.

In this first stage, there is a lack of commitment, little or no energy and no regulation of emotions in the face of the requested action.

Extrinsic motivation

Extrinsic motivation comes from external components, whether in sanctions (e.g.: I do my homework otherwise I will be deprived of television), or in reward (e.g.: salary at the end of the month when you are employed). These extrinsic motivations can be introjected or identified.

Introjected motivation

Motivation identified

The actions are linked to the person's values, and they have meaning for them. She identifies with the action she is doing and makes her activity one of her main values. The person here expects constructive feedback from his superiors.

Intrinsic motivation

It is governed solely by the pleasure and self-interest that action provides in a personal way. We want to do this action for the sole reason that we enjoy doing it. No external reward is expected.

It is possible to change our motivations. On the other hand, it is more difficult to move from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation. Indeed, if for the same work, you are offered to pay yourself, you will agree much less easily to do it for free even if your motivations could be intrinsic. Interests and values ​​are difficult to change. On the other hand, you can be self-motivated and with a high degree of self-determination, even if you are paid.

It is therefore important to remember that to motivate our peers, our colleagues, our children... it is necessary that the three needs (autonomy, competence, human relations) are satisfied. Each individual action forms the organization. This is why, always pay attention to what you transmit to others while respecting these values ​​and these needs.