Motivation Research
In a recent literature review, Deci and Ryan (1985) argued ~
that the functional significance (i.e., the psychological meaning)
of any input affecting the initiation and regulation of intentional
behavior can be usefully classified as eitlier informational
(i.e., as supporting autonomy and proroodng competence) or
controlling (i.e., as pressuring one to think, feel, or behave in
specified ways). Experiencing an input as informational fosters
self-determination, whereas experiencing it as controlling diminishes
self-determination.
Early studies on the contextual factors that affect self-determination
were laboratory experiments involving external manipulations
from which inferences could be drawn about
whether specific events (e.g., reward structures, deadlines, or
positive feedback) tend to be experienced as informational (i.e.,
as supporting self-determination) or controlling (i.e., as thwarting
self-determination). These studies indicated, for example,