You Oughta Know: The Motivation Series

Throughout the year, SDT's Richard Ryan joins us for a short, targeted conversation about a specific topic within the realm of SDT. 

In this episode, Rich explores the topic of healthcare. He explains some of the nuance associated with why we may or may not take care of ourselves (we know exercise is good for us, but don't do it), or why doctors and healthcare providers don't always succeed in supporting their patients adhering to ...

In this episode, Matt chats with Martin Lynch about the motivational effects motivation— specifically SDT— has on culture. We explore how different cultures may experience the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs from the theory. How do different cultural perspectives represent a concept like autonomy? Are cultures possibly undermining in of themselves? How can they be supportive of needs? How are universal needs like auto...

In this episode, I have the opportunity to talk with Dr. Anne Brafford who is an expert in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Of course, we take the self-determination theory lens as the filter for our discussion. We take the time to define our terms… exactly what is diversity, equity, and inclusion. Check out Anne’s orchestra metaphor for DEI!

We get into a deep conversation about identity and specifically, cultural identity…...

Today’s guest is Dr. Maarten Vansteenkiste, professor in the development and motivation psychology at Ghent University. 

We discuss the concept of needs crafting and agency. Maarten shares what is meant by these ideas (the act of one affecting one’s own environment directly… to steer one’s own life’s circumstances). He distinguishes between being autonomous and being independent.

We also discuss the CIRCUMPLEX, or COMPASS, a unique...

Each month, SDT's Richard Ryan joins us for a short, targeted conversation about a specific topic within the realm of SDT. In this episode, Rich talks about the application of SDT to the context of business. 

Rich starts with the impact of pay-for-performance… especially in the realm of sales environments. Controlling pay-for-performance systems undermine intrinsic motivation. He talks about how incentive systems may affect the spi...

In this episode of You Oughta Know: The Motivation Series, Matt is joined by Richard Koestner, professor of psychology from McGill University.

Today, we talk all things goals. Goal setting, goal achievement, tactics for successful goal attainment, how goals can get undermined, and more.

Richard mentions the work of Ken Sheldon, Andy Eliot, and Tim Kasser and their respective studies from the 90s and early 2000s.

Sheldon...

(THE AUDIO-ONLY VERSION)

Each month, SDT's Richard Ryan joins us for a short, targeted conversation about a specific topic within the realm of SDT. For this inaugural chat, Rich talks about the application of SDT to the context of education. 

Rich explores what really engages learners when learning. He highlights how supporting the needs for competence and autonomy are essential to engagement and how testing environments can underm...

In this episode, Matt is joined by Lennia Matos. Lennia is a professor at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. She is also an SDT international scholar and Editorial Member for the CSDT.

Together, they explore the mechanics and techniques one can use to enhance teaching in educational settings. They discuss how satisfying the three basic needs enhances the motivational experience and how positive mo...

Welcome to You Oughta Know: The Motivation Series. Today’s guest is Marylène Gagné. Marylène is a Professor at the Future of Work Institute in the Faculty of Business and Law at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. The Institute promotes productive and meaningful work as essential foundations of a healthy economy and society. Marylène's research examines how organizations, through their structures, cultures, rewards, tasks, and m...

In this episode, we focus on mental health and behavior change. Our guest is the wonderful Jennifer La Guardia, a behavioral scientist and clinical psychologist from an organization called Brightline.

We talk about Digital Health in the mental health space. Specifically in the context of child and family care. What it is, how it works, and more. For example, many don’t have access to the care they need, whether that is due to time,...

Our first guest is Julien Chanal from the University of Geneva.

During the episode, Matt and Julien discuss fitness and physical activity, which are specialties of Julien's work and research. Specifically, we talk about how kids's motivation to be active works and how childhood activity is an excellent predictor for how active adults are (and their respective motivation). We explore the strategies schools and parents can take to su...