Psychological Needs as Basic Motives, Not Just Experiential Requirements

2009/08/12 by Kennon M. Sheldon, Alexander Gunz · 371 citations
Psychology · #Applied psychology #Behavioral Health and Interventions #Clinical psychology #Cognitive psychology #Cognitive science #Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion #Experiential learning #Pedagogy #Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction #Psychological testing #Psychology #Psychotherapist #Social psychology

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00589.x

published in Journal of Personality 77(5), 1467-1492 (Wiley)

openalex publication_date 2009/08/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

Self-determination theory (SDT) posits 3 evolved psychological needs, for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Considerable research has established that all 3 experiences are important for well-being. However, no SDT research has examined whether unmet needs have motivational force, an important criterion for establishing that certain experiences are indeed basic needs and motives (R. F. Baumeister & M. R. Leary, 1995). Three studies, using cross-sectional, experimental, and longitudinal methodologies, supply evidence that felt deficits in autonomy, competence, and relatedness arouse corresponding desires to acquire the missing experiences. However, a positive surfeit of felt-need satisfaction did not predict reduced desires for the corresponding needs. Implications for homeostatic, evolutionary, and humanistic perspectives upon basic psychological needs are discussed.

Citations

• Learned helplessness in humans: Critique and reformulation.

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