There are thousands of articles and hundreds of theories that try to explain the elusive concept of motivation. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is the most cited motivation theory in the last decade. This notion explains intrinsic and extrinsic forms of motivation. Due to its clarity, athletes and exercisers use the SDT concepts to boost their motivation.
Intrinsic motivation is the desire to engage in an activity purely for the satisfaction and pleasure it produces (Deci & Ryan, 1985). According to SDT, the three basic psychological needs autonomy, competence, and relatedness matter for the occurrence of intrinsic motivation.
The need for autonomy is epitomized by the need to have a choice in executing actions that are in accordance with one’s values. For example, football players take part in the decision-making process of the team. In this regard, the social psychologist Dan Ariely mentioned the 'Endowment Effect' (also known as 'IKEA Effect'). This effect refers to an emotional bias that causes individuals to value an owned object higher, often irrationally, than its market value due to its emotional or symbolic significance to the individual.
When it comes to the need for competence, athletes and exercisers should interact effectively with the environment. Therefore, it is recommended that coaches and personal trainers would form out ideas to touch upon the sense of self-efficacy in their teams. Instead of saying in a cycling class ‘If you can’t get to the beat, just do your best’, Say‘If you want more of a challenge, accelerate to find the beat’
Lastly, the need for relatedness is epitomized by experiencing meaningful connections with others. Creating unified sport and exercise communities can help individuals to meet this goal.
Moreover, researchers have recently been investigated within the SDT framework the concept of variety, which involves the provision or experience of diverse opportunities, activities, and behavior. A study from 2016 found that exercise-related variety support results in improved levels of exercise adherence among inactive students.
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