Making Choices Meaningful: At the Intersection of Competence and Autonomy
What constitutes a meaningful choice for one person may not be meaningful to another. When I presented with Raphaela O’Day […]
Motivation, Psychology
Motivation
Health, Motivation, Psychology
The Diminishing Returns of Education for Health Behavior Change
Want someone to quit tobacco? Chances are your persuasive tactics to get them to stop smoking will include some cold
Motivation, Psychology, Technology
It’s Dangerous To Go Alone! The Legend of Zelda and Fundamental Needs
I was never a big gamer, but I did become obsessed with the original NES The Legend of Zelda as a
Motivation
Self-Determination Theory for Leaders and Managers
Although I’ve usually thought about motivation in terms of changing health behaviors, and often with a technology angle, the principles
Motivation, Psychology
“Goldilocksing” on Choice: How Much Is the Right Amount?
Self-determination theory, at a high level, would predict that giving people choice is a good thing. Giving people the opportunity
Motivation, Psychology
Siding with the Negative: A Motivational Interviewing Technique to Shift Perspectives
I like to think of motivational interviewing as conversational judo. Rather than putting your opinion forward in the conversation, you
Motivation, Psychology
You’re Not Alone: Using Normative Feedback to Motivate
One of the three fundamental human needs that an engaging experience supports is competence. Competence is not necessarily about already
Motivation, Psychology
Optimal Distinctiveness and Relatedness
If there is a universal human truth it’s that human beings are social animals. According to self-determination theory, one of
Motivation, Psychology
Why Coaches Can’t Motivate
Autonomy, one of the three basic needs that an engaging product supports, is about choice, but particularly meaningful choice. Sure,
Motivation, Psychology, Technology
Unnecessary Badges: When Your Reward System Targets the Wrong Behavior
Badges are an incredibly common way that app developers try to hook users of their product. Theoretically, badges aren’t a