Theory Of Self Determination

In order for people to feel fulfillment in both their personal life as well as in their careers, people need to meet their need for self-actualization. Included in their needs is also the need to feel as if they are in control of their own life, which is determined by self-determination. According to Deci, Ryan, and Guay (2013), the self-determination theory “assumes that people are inherently inclined to be proactive” (p. 110). Individuals are constantly looking for the next opportunity in order to feel as though they control their own life and the direction in which their career and personal life are headed instead of waiting for life events to occur. For people to self-actualize three distinct needs must be met; competence, autonomy, and

Lastly, people need to form close personal relationships in their lives in order to feel as though they belong somewhere. Without any one of these three needs being met a person will not be able to feel fulfillment in their life. There are also three types of autonomous behavior that Deci, Ryan, and Guay found; intrinsically motivated behavior, extrinsically motivated behavior, and emotion-motivated behavior. When people are intrinsically motivated they engage in activities because it is something that they enjoy doing and it makes them, not anyone else, happy. When individuals begin to only do things because there is either a consequence or reward outside of their own satisfaction, then these individuals are being externally motivated. If any one of the three needs of autonomy, relatedness, or competence has been prevented from being fulfilled for too long the person may begin to withdraw their desire for satisfaction. However if the need has not been met for only short amount of time, people will become more motivated to restore and satisfy the need that has not been