(4 of 5 in series)
Ryan & Deci's (2000) Self-Determination Theory Continuum of motivation moves from an impersonal orientation and amotivation, through a controlled orientation and extrinsic motivation, to an autonomous orientation and intrinsic motivation. This is the fourth installment of the series on motivation. If you missed the introduction you may want to read A Motivation Continuum for context.
Extrinsic Motivation and Autonomous Orientation
Extrinsic motivation is doing something because there is a separate outcome, such as a reward. In the previous article I explored the two types of extrinsic motivation that are associated with a control orientation: External Regulation and Introjection. The other two types of extrinsic motivation are associated with an autonomous orientation: Identification and Integrated Regulation. In this article I will describe the types of motivation, the autonomous orientation, and how they differ from intrinsic motivation.
What is Identification?
Identification is when an individual regulates their behavior by identifying the value of a behavior as contributing to a greater goal, and accepts the regulation of this behavior as controlled by the self (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Similar to introjection, there is an outcome separate from the behavior (that's what makes it extrinsic motivation), but the distinction is that in identification the individual accepts the behavior as personally important (Deci et al., 1994). This is reflective of an internal locus of control, or the a belief that the cause of success and failure exists inside the choices individual, and is within their control (GSP, 2013). When an individual consciously values a behavior as important, they can regulate behavior and choose to complete the action even if they don't like it.
One of my goals is to maintain physical and mental health. The concept of working out and eating healthy are behaviors that I recognize as personally important. I don't enjoy these behaviors but I know that doing them contributes to a greater goal, and I know that I have the power to choose whether or not to do them. I regularly draw on the personal importance of my health and well-being to motivate me to go to the gym because there are no extrinsic rewards for going (the slow progress of visible physical improvement does not satisfy my reward system's desire for instant gratification) and clearly my ego isn't invested enough in getting my butt to the gym. So instead I rely on the knowledge that the choice to workout, eat vegetables, and drink water is mine, and that they are a necessary component of my desire to be physically and mentally healthy.
The Autonomous Orientation
There are 3 basic psychological needs which play a crucial role in self-determined motivation and well-being. They are: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. In order for an individual to be self-determined these three basic psychological needs must be fully met (Ryan & Deci, 2000). One's general causality orientation is representative of an individual's measured disposition for feeling the needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness are satisfied.
In the Autonomous Orientation, the needs for competence, relatedness, and autonomy are all three satisfied. The degree to which the need for autonomy is satisfied is the cause of individual differences and variations in motivation between identification, integrated regulation, and intrinsic motivation (Ryan & Deci, 2008). The autonomous orientation gauges "the extent to which a person is oriented toward aspects of the environment that stimulate intrinsic motivation, are optimally challenging, and provide informational feedback" (Center for Self-Determination Theory). When a person is low in the autonomy orientation, they are resistant to persuasion in personally important issues (Koestner & Loiser, 2002), but may not initiate tasks or fully take responsibility for their behaviors (Center for Self-Determination Theory).
What is Integrated Regulation?
Integrated regulation is the second type of extrinsic motivation that falls in the autonomous orientation, and it is the most autonomous type of extrinsic motivation. Integrated regulation occurs when one self-examines behavior regulation and finds it congruent (in harmony) with one's values and needs (Ryan & Deci, 2000). An individual in integrated regulation internalizes the reasons for an action and likens them to the self, making extrinsically motivated actions more autonomous and self-determined (Deci et al., 1994).
Even though integrated regulation involves the internalization of motivations, the goal that is being pursued is still distinct from the self, which is why it is an extrinsic motivation. Integrated motivation does share two qualities with intrinsic motivation, it is autonomous and unconflicted (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Most of the work I do to earn my degree is completed from a place of integrated regulation. Learning about leadership, motivation, and organizational development aligns with my values and goals and I truly enjoy the subject matter. But the readings, assignments, and papers that I write are completed in pursuit of a goal that is distinct from me: my degree. I am confident that I will continue to read and learn about these topics long after my degree is in hand, but here and now I am not choosing to engage in these activities for the sheer reward of engaging in it; I am integrating these behaviors with my self who values learning, inclusion, adaptability, and knowledgeable leadership.
Conclusion
Identification and Integrated Regulation are two types of motivation that result from an autonomous causality orientation. Although these two types of motivation are similar, I hope you are able to recognize the differences, and some activities that you draw on each of these types of motivation in order to complete. Really reflecting on the "why" behind our behaviors with the information outlined in self-determination theory can teach us a lot about ourselves and how we interact with the world we live in.
Thanks for reading!
References
Center for Self-Determination Theory. (2019). General Causality Orientation Scale. Retrieved from: https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/general-causality-orientations-scale/
Deci, E. L.; Eghrari, H.; Patrick, B. C.; Leone, D. R. (1994). "Facilitating internalization: The self-determination theory perspective". Journal of Personality. 62: 119–142.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2008). Self-Determination Theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 49, 182-185.
Koestner, R., & Losier, G. F. (2002). Distinguishing three ways of being highly motivated: A closer look at introjection, identification, and intrinsic motivation.
Chicago Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary educational psychology, 25(1), 54-67.
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