The DOI matches its Crossref record; 45 of the 48 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Independent Effects of Goal Contents and Motives on Well-Being: It’s Both What You Pursue and Why You Pursue It
Abstract
The assertion that both the content of goals and the motives behind goals affect psychological well-being has been controversial. Three studies examined this issue directly, showing that both what goals people pursue (i.e., whether they strive for extrinsic vs. intrinsic goal contents) and why people pursue them (i.e., whether they strive for autonomous vs. controlled motives) make significant independent contributions to psychological well-being. The pattern emerged in between-person and within-person studies of cross-sectional well-being and also emerged in a year-long study of prospective change in well-being. Implications for prescriptive theories of happiness are discussed.
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“Relations from perceived autonomy support to exercise behavior, via psychological needs and regulatory styles have been tested (in part or all) in several studies and in general these confirm the proposed sequences [17,44,43,77,76,38,33].”
From Exercise, physical activity, and self-determination theory: A systematic review (2012) · cites this paper as [43]
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Cites
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037//0003-066x.55.1.68 · Cited by 54,599
Self-citationThe "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000) · Psychological Inquiry · doi:10.1207/s15327965pli1104_01 · Cited by 34,210
Self-citationDevelopment and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales.
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063 · Cited by 32,433
The satisfaction with life scale
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Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985) · doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-2271-7 · Cited by 26,772
Self-citationThe need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation.
Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037//0033-2909.117.3.497 · Cited by 23,245
Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior
Miller, K. A. J., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1988) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2070638 · Cited by 15,406
Self-citationOn Happiness and Human Potentials: A Review of Research on Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141 · Cited by 11,567
Self-citation(1973) · DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) · Cited by 10,144
Well-being : the foundations of hedonic psychology
Kahneman, D. J., Diener, E. F., & Schwarz, N. (1999) · Cited by 7,472
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- 10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497 · DOI · Paper page
- 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.56 · DOI
- 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68 · DOI · Paper page
- 10.1037/0022-3514.68.3.531 · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Self‐determination theory and work motivation
Gagné, M., & Deci, E. L. (2005) · Journal of Organizational Behavior · doi:10.1002/job.322 · Cited by 7,757
Self-citationAcceptance and commitment therapy: model, processes and outcomes
Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006 · Cited by 6,587
Self-Determination Theory in Work Organizations: The State of a Science
Deci, E. L., Olafsen, A. H., & Ryan, R. M. (2017) · Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior · doi:10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032516-113108 · Cited by 3,199
Self-citationExercise, physical activity, and self-determination theory: A systematic review
Teixeira, P. J., Carraça, E. V., Markland, D., Silva, M. N., & Ryan, R. M. (2012) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/1479-5868-9-78 · Cited by 2,963
“Thus, although intrinsic goals tend to be pursued for autonomous reasons and extrinsic goals tend to be pursued for controlled reasons [81], the content of, and reasons for pursuing aspirations can be empirically crossed.”
BackgroundSelf-citationFacilitating optimal motivation and psychological well-being across life's domains.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2008) · Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne · doi:10.1037/0708-5591.49.1.14 · Cited by 2,900
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Sheldon, K. M., Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L., & Kasser, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Missouri (US)
- University of Rochester (US)
- Knox College (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sheldon, Kennon M.
- Venue
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 475-486
- ISSN
- 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7433
- OpenAlex
- W2122394990
- Cited by
- 981
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 125 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 103 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 45 · 2012: 51
- FWCI
- 27.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH053385, MH-53385)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Human Behavior and Motivation
- Keywords
- goal content, psychological well-being, intrinsic goals, extrinsic goals, autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, self-determination theory, happiness, within-person change
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Goals, Happiness, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Prospective Studies, Self Concept
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