focusing on health

1
focusing on health wellbeing
wellness in students
2
key points of this talk
self-determination theory well-being

• needs
• goals
• motivations

3
personal background
work through a small charity whose aims are

• to provide a specialist service both for the
  treatment of psychological difficulties and for
  helping people enhance their health and
  wellbeing.
• to try to provide and encourage a whole person
  approach that uses what is best in conventional,
  complementary self-help methods of health care

for more details a downloadable copy of this
talk go to the good knowledge section of
www.goodmedicine.org.uk click on lectures and
leaflets and look under wellbeing and health
in past lectures
4
self-determination theory (SDT)
looking at well-being through the lens of
self-determination theory www.psych.rochester.edu/
SDT

• SDT is a general theory of motivation and
  personality that has evolved over the past three
  decades
• SDT suggests humans, like plants or other
  animals, intrinsically strive for need
  satisfaction flourishing
• social contexts can support or thwart this need
  striving with major effects for health
  well-being

Deci, E. L. and R. M. Ryan (1985). Intrinsic
motivation and self-determination in human
behavior. New York, Plenum. Deci, E. L. and R.
M. Ryan (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal
pursuits Human needs and the self-determination
of behavior. Psychological Inquiry 11 227-268.
5
key points of this talk
self-determination theory well-being

• needs
• goals
• motivations

6
three key psychological needs

• a basic need (whether physiological or
  psychological) is defined as an energizing state
  that, if satisfied, promotes health well-being
  but, if not satisfied, contributes to pathology
  and ill-being
• how these three basic psychological needs
  autonomy, comp-etence relatedness can best be
  satisfied will vary with individual strengths,
  life stage, social context, and culture
• personal goals that lead to satisfaction of these
  three basic needs will promote well-being, but
  individuals due to broad societal conditioning
  and personal life history may well strive for
  goals that do not satisfy these needs or enhance
  their well-being

Ryan, R. M. and E. L. Deci (2000).
Self-determination theory and the facilitation of
intrinsic motivation, social development, and
well-being. Am Psychol 55(1) 68-78.
7
three key psychological needs

• autonomy personal choice not compulsion by
  outside forces
• competence capable effective not incompetent
  inefficient
• relatedness regular emotional intimacy shared
  activities not isolation loneliness

Reis, H. T., K. M. Sheldon, et al. (2000). Daily
well-being the role of autonomy, competence, and
relatedness. Pers Soc Psychol Bull 26(4)
419-435. Sheldon, K. M., A.
J. Elliot, et al. (2001). What is satisfying
about satisfying events? Testing 10 candidate
psychological needs. J Pers Soc Psychol 80(2)
325-39.
8
what makes for a good day?

• people whose needs for competence, autonomy
  relatedness are more satisfied experience greater
  well-being than those whose needs are less
  satisfied
• at the same time, for each individual, days when
  these basic needs are more satisfied are
  experienced as better than days when the needs
  are less satisfied
• its not just the total amount of need
  satisfaction, its also the balance that
  optimises well-being

Sheldon, K. M., R. Ryan, et al. (1996). What
makes for a good day? Competence and autonomy in
the day and in the person. Pers Soc Psychol Bull
22(12) 1270-1279. Sheldon, K. M. and C. P.
Niemiec (2006). It's not just the amount that
counts balanced need satisfaction also affects
well-being. J Pers Soc Psychol 91(2) 331-41.
9
key points of this talk
self-determination theory well-being

• needs
• goals
• motivations

10
many research studies on goals

• Kasser, T. and R. M. Ryan (1993). A dark side of
  the American dream correlates of financial
  success as a central life aspiration. J Pers Soc
  Psychol 65(2) 410-22.
• Kasser, T. and R. M. Ryan (1996). Further
  examining the American dream differential
  correlates of intrinsic and extrinsic goals.
  Pers Soc Psychol Bull 22(3) 280-287.
• Lapierre, S., L. Bouffard, et al. (1997).
  Personal goals and subjective well-being in later
  life. Int J Aging Hum Dev 45(4) 287-303.
• Schmuck, P., T. Kasser, et al. (2000). Intrinsic
  and extrinsic goals their structure and
  relationship to well-being in German and U.S.
  college students. Social Indicators Research
  50(2) 225-241.
• Kasser, T. and A. Ahuvia (2002). Materialistic
  values and well-being in business students.
  European Journal of Social Psychology 32(1)
  137-146.

11
now for some active involvement
Larson
12
your personal choice of goals
which are your three top choices?

• emotional intimacy having many close caring
  relationships
• financial success having a job that pays very
  well and having a lot of nice possessions
• fame/popularity being known /or admired by many
  people
• community contribution helping to make the world
  a better place
• attractive image looking good appearing
  attractive to others
• personal growth being fulfilled having a very
  meaningful life

13
goals their health implications
key needs relatedness, autonomy competence

• intrinsic goals prioritising intimacy, community
  personal growth, tend to satisfy these three
  key psychological needs directly.
• extrinsic goals prioritising money, status
  image focus on achieving external rewards
  praise typically at the expense of key need
  satisfaction.

prioritising extrinsic goals is associated with
increased anxiety, depression, narcissism
physical symptoms and decreased vitality,
self-actualization well-being
14
goals wellbeing
e.g. emotional intimacy having many close
caring relationships personal growth being
fulfilled and having a very meaningful life
community contribution helping to make the world
a better place
encourage wellbeing
intrinsic goals
Sheldon, K. M. et al. (2004). "The inde-pendent
effects of goal contents motives on well-being
it's both what you pursue why you pursue it."
Pers Soc Psychol Bull 30(4) 475-86
goals are defined here as projects you think
about, plan for, carry out and sometimes (though
not always) complete or succeed at
e.g. financial success having a job that pays
very well and having a lot of nice possessions
fame/popularity being known and/or admired by
many people attractive image looking good and
appearing attractive to others
unrelated to wellbeing
extrinsic goals
15
social context affects goal choice

• Kasser, T., et al. (2002). Early family
  experiences and adult values A 26-year,
  prospective longitudinal study. Pers Soc Psychol
  Bull 28(6) 826-835.
• Feeney, B. C. (2004). A secure base responsive
  support of goal strivings and exploration in
  adult intimate relationships. J Pers Soc Psychol
  87(5) 631-48.
• Sheldon, K. M. and L. S. Krieger (2004). Does
  legal education have under-mining effects on law
  students? Evaluating changes in motivation,
  values, and well-being. Behav Sci Law 22(2)
  261-86.
• Vansteenkiste, M., J. Simons, et al. (2004).
  Motivating learning, performance, and
  persistence the synergistic effects of intrinsic
  goal contents autonomy-supportive contexts. J
  Pers Soc Psychol 87(2) 246-60.
• Sheldon, K. M. (2005). Positive value change
  during college normative trends and individual
  differences. J Res Personal 39(2) 209-223.
• Grouzet, F. M., T. Kasser, et al. (2005). The
  structure of goal contents across 15 cultures. J
  Pers Soc Psychol 89(5) 800-16.

16
social context affects choice!
laboratory peer pressure
Larson
17
goal focus affects daily well-being
encouraging a focus on personally relevant
intrinsic goals increases day to day well-being

• King, L. A., J. H. Richards, et al. (1998).
  Daily goals, life goals, and worst fears means,
  ends, and subjective well-being. J Personality
  66 713-744.
• Sheldon, K. M. A. J. Elliot (1999). Goal
  striving, need satisfaction, longitud-inal
  well-being the self-concordance model. J Pers
  Soc Psychol 76(3) 482-97.
• Hoppmann, C. A. P. L. Klumb (2006). Daily goal
  pursuits predict cortisol secretion and mood
  states in employed parents with preschool
  children. Psychosom Med 68(6) 887-94.

intrinsic goal focus is promoted by providing
explanation, a supportive relationship choice
18
key points of this talk
self-determination theory well-being

• needs
• goals
• motivations

19
reasons for personal goal choice
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 not at all

completely because
of this reason
because of this reason

• you strive for this goal because somebody else
  wants you to, or the situation seems to compel
  it.
• you strive for this goal because you would feel
  ashamed, guilty, or anxious if you didnt.
• you strive for this goal because you really feel
  that its an important goal to have.
• you strive for this goal because of the enjoyment
  or stimulation which the goal
  provides you.

Sheldon, K. M. A. J. Elliot (1999). Goal
striving, need satisfaction, and longitudinal
well-being the self-concordance model. J Pers
Soc Psychol 76(3) 482-97.
20
motivations wellbeing
controlled motivations
autonomous motivations
extrinsic motivations because someone else
wants you to or because the situation seems to
compel it introjected motivations because you
would feel ashamed, guilty or anxious if you did
not have this goal
identified motivations because you really
identify with this goal intrinsic motivations
because of the enjoyment or stimulation this
goal provides you
encourage wellbeing
unrelated to wellbeing
for more details on Ken Sheldons work
see http//web.missouri.edu/psycks
21
Gary Larson
autonomous motivation encourages well-being
with no one looking, Konor would secretly
sprinkle on a few sprouts
22
goals, motivations wellbeing
intrinsic goals
wellbeing
wellbeing
autonomous motivations
controlled motivations
wellbeing
wellbeing
extrinsic goals
23
SDT relevant for many areas
SDT highly relevant for education health care

• well-being (34 papers) happiness, well-being,
  needs, motivation, goals, life course changes.
• education (79 papers) for both school
  university.
• health care (36 papers books) smoking, alcohol
  drug problems, diet, exercise, diabetes
  (freely down-loadable treatment questionnaires
  also provided).
• other (many papers!) 15 further subject areas
  that include friendship, parenting, couples,
  psychotherapy, sport, organizations, and
  political/ecological action.

www.psych.rochester.edu/SDT
24
self-determination education
it is nothing short of a miracle that modern
methods of instruction have not yet entirely
strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry
Albert Einstein
25
motivation especially important
comparisons between people whose motivation is
authentic (literally, self-authored or endorsed)
and those who are merely externally controlled
... typically reveal that the former ... have
more interest, excitement, confidence which in
turn is manifest both as enhanced performance,
persistence, creativity, and as heightened
vitality, self-esteem, general well-being
Ryan, R. M. and E. L. Deci (2000).
Self-determination theory and the facilitation of
intrinsic motivation, social development, and
well-being. Am Psychol 55(1) 68-78
26
a spectrum of motivations
behaviour motivation regulatory style perceiv
ed causality regulatory processes
non self-determined
self-determined
impersonal
external to internal
internal
non-intentional, non-valuing, incompetent, lack
of control
interest, enjoyment, inherent satisfaction
ranging from external compliance to internal
synthesis
27
shifting from external to integrated
behaviour motivation regulatory style perceiv
ed causality regulatory processes
non self-determined
self-determined
external regulation
identified regulation
introjected regulation
integrated regulation
somewhat external
somewhat internal
external
internal
compliance, external rewards punishments
congruence, awareness, synthesis with self
self-control, ego involvement, internal rewards
punishments
personal importance, conscious valuing
28
crucial external to integrated shift
social context encourages this shift when ...

• good rationale clear achievement pathway
  provided (autonomy competence)
• within a supportive relationship that allows
  expression of feelings (relatedness)
• genuine choice is offered (autonomy)

29
key points of this talk
self-determination theory well-being

• needs
• goals
• motivations

30
self-determination theory (SDT)
looking at well-being through the lens of
self-determination theory www.psych.rochester.edu/
SDT

• SDT is a general theory of motivation and
  personality that has evolved over the past three
  decades
• SDT suggests humans, like plants or other
  animals, intrinsically strive for need
  satisfaction flourishing
• social contexts can support or thwart this need
  striving with major effects for health
  well-being

Deci, E. L. and R. M. Ryan (1985). Intrinsic
motivation and self-determination in human
behavior. New York, Plenum. Deci, E. L. and R.
M. Ryan (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal
pursuits Human needs and the self-determination
of behavior. Psychological Inquiry 11 227-268.