On psychological growth and vulnerability: Basic psychological need satisfaction and need frustration as a unifying principle.

Abstract

Humans have a potential for growth, integration, and well-being, while also being vulnerable to defensiveness, aggression, and ill-being. Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000b) argues that satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness both fosters immediate well being and strengthens inner resources contributing to subsequent resilience, whereas need frustration evokes ill-being and increased vulnerabilities for defensiveness and psychopathology. We briefly review recent research indicating how contextual need support and the experience of need satisfaction promote well-being and different growth manifestations (e.g., intrinsic motivation, internalization), as well as a rapidly growing body of work relating need thwarting and need frustration to ill-being, pursuit of need substitutes, and various forms of maladaptive functioning. Finally, we discuss research on differences in autonomous self-regulation and mindfulness, which serve as factors of resilience.

You ‘have’ to hear this: Using tone of voice to motivate others.

“…For example, we might expect that controlling speakers would be perceived to be more pressuring, and as a result participants would feel pressured. We furthermore tested whether prosody could also shape well-being, given autonomy-supported individuals experience more happiness and self-esteem, and lower anxiety, than those who are being controlled (e.g., O'Rourke et al, 2012;Reis et al, & Ryan, 2000;Vansteenkiste & Ryan, 2013). We expected that listening to autonomy-supportive prosody would improve well-being.…”

Towards a science and practice of resilience in the face of pain

“…In the context of pain, the challenge is to keep engaging in activities for autonomous instead of controlled reasons, key of which may be the continued satisfaction of these basic needs. In contrast, need thwarting may give rise to compensatory behaviours such as diminished self-control (manifested through for instance alcohol or medication abuse) and rigid behavioural patterns (Vansteenkiste and Ryan, 2013). In the latter case, individuals may compulsively stick to certain behavioural patterns because they provide a sense of predictability and security (Vansteenkiste and Ryan, 2013).…”

“…In contrast, need thwarting may give rise to compensatory behaviours such as diminished self-control (manifested through for instance alcohol or medication abuse) and rigid behavioural patterns (Vansteenkiste and Ryan, 2013). In the latter case, individuals may compulsively stick to certain behavioural patterns because they provide a sense of predictability and security (Vansteenkiste and Ryan, 2013). In the context of pain, individuals may for instance persistently try to avoid activities which they think will augment their pain, depriving them from activities which may potentially satisfy their basic psychological needs.…”

“…On the other hand, need frustration typically gives rise to so-called controlled motivation, in which individuals feel forced to engage in activities (by others or via self-enforced guilt). Extensive research evidence shows that pursuing activities for volitional reasons instead of controlled reasons leads to enhanced performance, persistence, heightened vitality, more self-esteem and higher general wellbeing (Ryan and Deci, 2000;Vansteenkiste and Ryan, 2013). In the context of pain, the challenge is to keep engaging in activities for autonomous instead of controlled reasons, key of which may be the continued satisfaction of these basic needs.…”

Choosing when choices are limited: The role of perceived afforded choice and autonomy in prisoners’ well-being.

“…In contrast, autonomy frustration is characterized by feelings of pressure and inner conflict, for instance, when prisoners feel forced to take part in nonvalued activities. We focus specifically on the need for autonomy (rather than the needs for competence and relatedness) as perceived afforded choice, another key variable in the current study, is expected to relate most strongly to autonomy (see Reeve, Nix, & Hamm, 2003; but see Patall, Cooper, & Robinson, 2008 for a link with competence).An extensive body of empirical work underscores the benefits associated with autonomy satisfaction and the mental health costs associated with autonomy frustration (for an overview see Vansteenkiste & Ryan, 2013). To illustrate, in an earlier study, Vansteenkiste, Lens, Soenens, and Luyckx (2006) reported that in a sample of Chinese immigrants autonomy satisfaction related positively to positive affect, life satisfaction and vitality, while being negatively related to depressive symptoms.…”