Deci and Ryan (1985, 1990) and Deci, Vallerand, Pelletier and Ryan (1991) have reconceptualised
the internal-external dichotomy and proposed an intrinsic-extrinsic continuum which is grounded
in organismic integration theory (OIT), another sub-theory of self-determination theory. OIT is
concerned with the process by which individuals come to regulate acts which are not initially
intrinsically interesting by transforming regulation by external contingencies into regulation by
internal processes. OIT outlines several forms of behavioural regulation: external, introjected,
identified, and integrated, which manifest varying degrees of self-determination and are best placed
on a continuum ranging from non-self-determined to completely self-determined motivation.