INTERNALIZATION OF BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL VALUES BY MEDICAL-STUDENTS - A TEST OF SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY

Two studies tested self-determination theory with 2nd-year medical stu dents in an interviewing course. Study 1 revealed that (a) individuals with a more autonomous orientation on the General Causality Orientati ons Scale had higher psychosocial beliefs at the beginning of the cour se and reported more autonomous reasons for participating in the cours e, and (b) students who perceived their instructors as more autonomy-s upportive became more autonomous in their learning during the 6-month course. Study 2, a 30-month longitudinal study, revealed that students who perceived their instructors as more autonomy-supportive became mo re autonomous in their learning, which in turn accounted for a signifi cant increase in both perceived competence and psychosocial beliefs ov er the 20-week period of the course, more autonomy support when interv iewing a simulated patient 6 months later, and stronger psychosocial b eliefs 2 years later.