Lecture Notes on Motivation, Self-Determination and Gender

Flashcards on Self-Determination Theory, Motivation, and Gender Differences

Self-Determination Theory

A motivational model emphasizing competence, autonomy, and relatedness as fundamental psychological needs.

Competence

Feeling effective and capable in one’s activities.

Autonomy

The sense of acting with a full sense of volition and choice; feeling like the origin of one's actions.

Relatedness

Feeling connected to others and experiencing caring relationships.

Motivation in Self-Determination Theory

Occurs when competence, autonomy, and relatedness needs are met, leading to engagement and positive emotions.

Amotivation

Lack of intent to act (e.g., “I don’t see the point”).

External Motivation

Driven by external rewards or punishments (e.g., brushing teeth to avoid cavities).

Introjected Motivation

Internal pressure like guilt or shame (e.g., Exercising because you’d feel bad if you didn’t).

Identified Motivation

Valuing the activity personally (e.g., Studying because education is important to you).

Integrated Motivation

Activity aligns with one’s identity (e.g., Eating healthy because you see yourself as a health-conscious person).

Autonomous Orientation

Seeks choice, sees situations as opportunities for self-direction. Associated with greater well-being and initiative.

Controlled Orientation

Responds to external pressure and expectations. Driven by rewards, guilt, or approval. Autonomy is not met; however, relatedness and competence is met

Impersonal Orientation

Feels unable to influence outcomes, often apathetic or detached. Linked to poor functioning and well-being.

Locus of Control

Belief about the extent to which individuals can control events affecting them.

Internal Locus of Control

Belief that outcomes depend on one’s own efforts or abilities.

External Locus of Control

Belief that outcomes are due to luck, fate, or powerful others.

Learned Helplessness

Arises when individuals perceive no control over their environment, leading to passive behavior even when control becomes possible.

Learned Hopelessness

Belief that negative events are stable (will continue) and global (affecting many life aspects).

Explanatory Style

Habitual ways individuals explain causes of positive and negative events in their lives. Includes locus of control, stability and globality.

Optimistic Explanatory Style

Bad events = external, unstable, specific.

Pessimistic Explanatory Style

Bad events = internal, stable, global.

ABCDE Model

A framework in CBT to dispute automatic negative thoughts and reframe them more constructively: Adversity, Belief, Consequence, Disputation, Energization.

Sex

A biological classification based on chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs (e.g., male or female).

Gender

A social classification based on roles, behaviors, and identity (e.g., masculine or feminine), not inherently tied to biological sex.

Gender Similarities Hypothesis

The hypothesis that males and females are similar on most, but not all, psychological variables.

WEIRD Samples

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic samples, which dominate research but may not reflect universal personality patterns.