{"id":1426,"slug":"deci-ryan-2000-self-determination-theory-foundational","title":"Deci & Ryan (1985, 2000) Self-Determination Theory — intrinsic motivation supported by three needs: autonomy + competence + relatedness","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["behavioral-economics","interactive-tool-mechanisms","self-determination-theory"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** **Self-Determination Theory (SDT)**: intrinsic motivation is supported by satisfying **three basic psychological needs**: (1) **autonomy** (feeling the origin of one's own actions); (2) **competence** (feeling effective); (3) **relatedness**. Foundational sources: **Deci & Ryan (1985), *Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior***; **Ryan & Deci (2000), \"Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation...\", *American Psychologist* 55(1), 68-78**.\n\n**Source:** Deci & Ryan (1985) book; Ryan & Deci (2000), American Psychologist.\n\n**Confidence:** Verified for theory.\n\n**Why this matters for Candid:** Actively operating a tool — making choices, providing inputs, controlling the interaction — **supports autonomy and competence**, which is intrinsically engaging. Anchors [[rule-support-agency-and-competence-not-choice-overload]].","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-engagement-mechanisms-top-up-smb-june-2026","title":"Research notes (capture-layer top-up): why interactive online tools are psychologically engaging — six additional mechanisms (June 2026)","kind":"research-notes","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"patall-cooper-robinson-2008-choice-intrinsic-motivation-meta","title":"Patall, Cooper & Robinson (2008), Psychological Bulletin (41 studies meta) — choice enhances intrinsic motivation, effort, performance, perceived competence; moderated (2-4 choices, no extrinsic reward, children > adults)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"sundar-marathe-2010-personalization-vs-customization-agency","title":"Sundar & Marathe (2010), Human Communication Research — customization (user acts) vs personalization (system acts): the appeal of customization is tied to the user's sense of agency","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"vallerand-reid-1984-positive-feedback-perceived-competence-mediates","title":"Vallerand & Reid (1984), Journal of Sport Psychology (N=115/84) — positive feedback INCREASES while negative feedback DECREASES intrinsic motivation; perceived competence MEDIATES","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"sdt-cultural-universality-critique-hagger-2013","title":"SDT cultural-universality critique (Hagger et al. 2013) — autonomy's primacy may reflect Western individualism; collectivist participants sometimes show higher intrinsic motivation under authority direction; SDT defenders reply autonomy ≠ independence","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"rule-support-agency-and-competence-not-choice-overload","title":"R3 — Support agency + competence (2-4 meaningful choices + positive contextual feedback); avoid choice overload and frustration; let the user DO the work","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.927Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.927Z"}