Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory

Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory

Self-Determination Theory (SDT), formulated by Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, explains that human motivation is driven by three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When these needs are met, individuals experience personal growth, intrinsic motivation, and overall well-being.
Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's actions and decisions. For example, a student who chooses their research topic is likely to be more engaged and motivated than one who is...

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...

Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation

Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation

Clark Hull's drive-reduction theory, introduced in the 1940s and 1950s and often termed the "push theory" of motivation, provides a framework for understanding how biological and learned drives influence behavior. Hull suggested that motivation originates from the need to alleviate physiological tension caused by unmet biological necessities. The theory proposes that when a basic need, such as hunger or sleep, goes unfulfilled, it creates an internal imbalance. This imbalance, or drive, pushes...

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI

Adopting a healthier lifestyle often requires overcoming significant challenges, but leveraging psychological, social, and cultural resources can facilitate meaningful change. Effective self-change hinges on understanding and applying key tools such as motivation and goal setting, which help sustain efforts toward long-term health benefits.
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...

Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II

Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II

The person's health status fluctuates continually, varying from being in good health to becoming ill and returning to being healthy. To understand the concept of illness prevention, there are two models. First, the health-illness continuum model is a graphic representation of an individual's wellness. It states that a person is considered healthy in the absence of physical disease and the presence of good emotional health.
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results from...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Similar exercise adherence and physical fitness outcomes are observed across distinct motivation profiles in older adults participating in a home-based structured exercise programme.

European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity·2026

Same author

Longitudinal predictor analysis of pain in breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors-the PAC-WOMAN trial.

Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

A Digital Toolkit for Weight Loss Maintenance in European Adults (NoHoW): 2×2 Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial.

Journal of medical Internet research·2026

Same author

Ayahuasca and Public Health III: Health Status of a Sample of Ayahuasca Ceremony Attenders in Portugal.

Journal of psychoactive drugs·2026

Same author

The combination of exercise and psychedelics for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

Discover mental health·2026

Same author

Exploring self-reported health behavior change following naturalistic psychedelic use.

Journal of health psychology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Published on: March 7, 2019

Promoting physical activity: development and testing of self-determination theory-based interventions.

Michelle S Fortier¹, Joan L Duda, Eva Guerin

¹School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa K1N 6N5, Canada. mfortier@uottawa.ca

The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

|March 6, 2012

Summary

Self-Determination Theory (SDT) can guide interventions for health behavior change. This review highlights SDT

More Related Videos

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults

Published on: December 1, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Published on: March 7, 2019

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults

Published on: December 1, 2023

Area of Science:

Behavioral Science
Health Psychology
Exercise Science

Background:

Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is increasingly used for health behavior change interventions.
Recent research applies SDT to promote active lifestyles and physical activity adoption.
Understanding SDT's role is crucial for effective physical activity promotion.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the application of SDT in physical activity interventions.
To highlight how researchers and practitioners can use SDT for physical activity promotion.
To evaluate recent SDT-based physical activity intervention trials.

Main Methods:

Review of literature on SDT and physical activity.
Analysis of three randomized controlled trials: PAC, Empower, and PESO.
Examination of SDT-based intervention components, procedures, and findings.

Main Results:

SDT provides a framework for designing and implementing physical activity interventions.
The reviewed trials demonstrate the potential of SDT in promoting physical activity.
Key findings from the PAC, Empower, and PESO trials are presented.

Conclusions:

SDT is a valuable theoretical framework for physical activity interventions.
Further research is needed to address limitations and challenges in SDT-based interventions.
SDT can inform the development of effective strategies for increasing physical activity levels.