PSY 313 Ch. 9

Actualizing Tendency

The motive to actualize, that is, to bring about growth and positive change.

Optimal Chalenge

The point at which an activity is neither too easy, leading to boredom, or too difficult, leading to frustration.

Amotivation

The state of having no motivation, being neither intrinsically nor extrinsically motivated. Often accompanied by feelings of apathy or alienation.

Self-Determination Theory

The theory by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan that states that people need autonomy, competence, and relatedness in order to feel intrinsic motivation.

Overjustification Effect

When people lose interest in a formerly intrinsically interesting activity as a result of extrinsic control.

Self-Efficacy

The belief that that one can be competent an defective at some activity.

Impersonal Orientation

The degree to which people feel they lack control over important outcomes, often resulting in amotivation.

Autonomous Orientation

The degree to which people interpret a situation as autonomy supportive, providing information to allow them to be self-regualting.

Flow

A positive state of complete absorption, deep enjoyment,and intense concentration in a task.

Path Analysis

A technique in which researchers use statistics to test hypotheses about how variables relate to one another.

Introjected Regulation

A type of self-regualtion where behavior is controlled by something inside a person, often by guilt and anxiety.

Integrated Regulation

A type of self-regualtion where behavior is initiated from within a person because the person has internalized the goals an devalues involved with the task at hand such that is an expression of his or her personality.

External Regulation

A type of self-regulation where behavior is controlled by something or someone outside a person often by rewards and punishments.

Identified Regulation

A type of self-regulation where behavior is initiated form within a person, because the person has accepted a goal that is more important or interesting that the task at hand.

Humanistic Tradition

A viewpoint in psychology that emphasizes the importance of responsibility, growth and actualization.

Path Diagram

A visual illustration of the results of a path analysis that shows the significant connections among variables.

Extrinsically Motivated

Doing something because of external pressures like rewards and punishments.

Intrinsically Motivated

Doing something because of the pleasure, satisfaction, and interest in the activity itself.

Intrinsic Motivation

Engaging in an activity due to reasons inherent in the activity itself like satisfaction or pleasure.

Extrinsic Motivation

Engaging in an activity due to reasons outside the activity itself.

Intrinsic Regulation

Freely choosing to engage in an activity because of the pleasure, satisfaction, or interest inherent in the activity itself.

Outcome Expectation

In self-efficacy theory, the belief that acting in a certain way will produce a certain outcome.

Efficacy Expectation

In self-efficacy theory, the belief that one is capable of acting in a certain way.

Competence

One of the three needs according to self-determination theory; feeling effective in one's actions.

Autonomy

One of the three needs according to self-determination theory; feeling free and able to make voices about one's actions.

Relatedness

One of the three needs according to self-determination theory; feeling meaningfully connected to others.

Locus of Causality

People's beliefs about the choice to engage in a behavior, feeling autonomous or controlled.

Locus of Control

People's beliefs about what determines their outcomes in life, their own efforts (internal) or outside circumstances, such as other people, fate or luck (external).

Causality Orientations

People's typical way of regulating their motivation and behavior developed over a lifetime of experience with internal and external motivation.