IB Sports, exercise and health science C.3.2.3 Six Mini-theories of Self-determination: a Meta-theoretical Approach Notes

Six Mini-Theories of SDT

1. Self-determination theory is not really one theory.
2. It is a meta-theory made up of six smaller theories, each one addressing a different facet of motivation.
3. Together they explain how motivation forms, how it shifts over time, why some people are more self-driven than others, and what environments do to all of that.
4. Knowing the six mini-theories matters because exam questions often target one specific corner of SDT rather than the framework as a whole.

Six-Lenses Analogy

1. The six mini-theories all share the same engine: the three basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness).
2. Each theory is a different lens pointed at that engine, highlighting a different aspect of how motivation works.

1. Cognitive Evaluation Theory (CET)

1. Cognitive Evaluation Theory explains how external events (rewards, feedback, deadlines) influence intrinsic motivation.
2. Any reward or comment carries two messages at once: the athlete reads it as either informational (telling them something about their competence) or controlling (trying to push them into a behaviour).
3. Informational feedback supports a sense of competence and raises intrinsic motivation.
4. Controlling rewards undermine autonomy and lower it.

Overjustification Effect

1. The overjustification effect describes the damage done by controlling rewards.
2. An athlete who already enjoys an activity is given a tangible reward for doing it.
3. They start to attribute their behaviour to the reward rather than to the enjoyment.
4. When the reward is withdrawn, the original intrinsic drive is weaker than before.
5. Money and medals are the classic culprits.
6. They tell the athlete the reward is the reason for participating, and the reward becomes the new motivation.

2. Organismic Integration Theory (OIT)

1. Organismic Integration Theory explains how extrinsic motivation can become progressively more internalised over time.
2. Extrinsic motivation is not a single thing.