NEED SATISFACTION AND THE SELF-REGULATION OF LEARNING

Self-regulation is analyzed in terms of self-determination theory usin g the concepts of intrinsic motivation and the internalization of extr insic motivation. Laboratory experiments and field studies are reviewe d indicating that: (1) intrinsic motivation and fully internalized ext rinsic motivation are positively associated with high quality learning and personal adjustment; and (2) maintaining intrinsic motivation and internalizing extrinsic motivation are facilitated by social contexts that allow satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for autonomy , competence, and relatedness. Such contexts are ones that are charact erized by the provision of choice, optimal challenge, informational fe edback, interpersonal involvement, and acknowledgment of feelings.