Self-Determination Theory

If carrots and sticks fail, what drives sustained motivation? Self-Determination Theory (SDT), developed by Deci and Ryan, is one of the most robust frameworks in motivational psychology.

SDT names three innate psychological needs that, when met, produce genuine motivation:

• Autonomy: Meaningful input into what you do, how, and when.
• Competence: Feeling effective and capable — progressing, learning, and mastering challenges at the right level of difficulty.
• Relatedness: Feeling connected to others and part of something larger than yourself.