Smith, K., A. Landon, D.C. Fulton, and G. Kyle. 2024. Self-determination theory as an alternate conceptual foundation for motivation in natural resource recreation. Human Dimensions of Wildlife.
Abstract
Motivation is a topic that receives substantial interest across the social sciences. However, in the human dimensions literature, scholars have primarily treated motivation as a unitary construct defined by the individual's desired goal state. In contrast, self-determination theory (SDT) suggests that multiple forms of motivation can influence levels of self-determination, integration of identities, and subsequent behavioral intentions, and has been utilized in multiple realms to understand human behaviors. SDT forms a consistent and well-understood mechanism for human psychological development and optimal function and allows for the formulation of out-of-sample prediction, a cornerstone of science. In this manuscript, we review the basic theories that make up SDT and provide insight for its application to human dimensions of wildlife research.