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Published on: March 7, 2019
Do people differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic goals for physical activity?
Sarah McLachlan1, Martin S Hagger
1School of Psychology, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
|May 12, 2011
Summary
People naturally distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic goals, particularly for physical activity. This research supports self-determination theory by showing individuals group goals by type, even if explicit coding is challenging.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Self-determination theory posits intrinsic goals and motivation lead to better outcomes than extrinsic ones.
- Previous research supports these predictions but hasn't examined if individuals naturally differentiate goal types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether individuals naturally differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic goals.
- To test goal differentiation in the context of leisure-time physical activity.
Main Methods:
- Two studies employed memory-recall methods for physical activity goals.
- Study 1 involved free generation and coding of goals; Study 2 involved recalling goals after a decision.
Main Results:
- Individuals' goal generation and recall showed significant clustering by intrinsic or extrinsic type.
- Participants experienced some difficulty when explicitly categorizing goals.
Conclusions:
- Findings support self-determination theory's premise of distinct goal types.
- Individuals demonstrate an innate ability to discriminate between intrinsic and extrinsic goals.
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