A Critical Theory Of Self-Determination Theory

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According to Johnmarshall Reeve (2012), Self-Determination Theory is a macrotheory of motivation that represents an extremely beneficial general theoretical framework that can be utilized for analyzing students’ motivation and engagement. Self-Determination Theory seems relatively complex in comparison with the previously discussed expectancy-value theories because there are five minitheories that make up the overarching theoretical framework. The five minitheories include, “basic needs theory,” “organismic integration theory,” “goal contents theory,” “cognitive evaluation theory,” and “causality orientations theory” (p. 153). Each of the five minitheories helps describe and explain more specific forms of motivational phenomena and advance …show more content…

The theory has also helped researchers to identify important internal motivational resources, contextual factors, and interpersonal styles that can be utilized for enhancing students’ academic environments to facilitate higher quality engagement and motivation. Basic Needs Theory describes how three important psychological needs share an important relationship with intrinsic motivation, higher quality engagement, overall psychological well-being, and general functioning capacities. The three psychological needs are autonomy, competence, and relatedness. After reading about these three basic needs, it was apparent that these psychological factors play a critical role in determining the engagement and motivation that I exhibit in an academic realm. I have been highly motivated and engaged with my coursework since returning to college in the Fall of 2014, but I was not like this during my high school years. I think this theory helps to explain why I have exerted different levels of motivation in these phases of my life. First, I did not feel autonomous about my coursework in high school. During high school, I spent …show more content…

Goal Contents Theory compliments the major aspects of Organismic Theory and Basic Needs Theory by addressing the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations. It is critical to differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic goals because these goals have a profound influence on psychological well-being and motivational processes. For example, I work at Charlie’s Chicken part-time. Unfortunately, I do not enjoy the job very much at all. I am simply working there to make ends meet until I finish college. Although I feel like I am a good employee that keeps up with my work, my goals at this job are very extrinsic in nature and this most definitely has an influence on my psychological well-being and the quality of motivation and engagement that I exert while at this job. I hope to maintain intrinsic goals in whatever future career I end up in, and I am confident that intrinsic goals could enhance my psychological well-being, motivation, and engagement in a career that I deem intrinsically

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