Table 1 Definitions of the basic psychological needs postulated by SDT [13]
From: Learning from complex elderly care: a qualitative study on motivating residents in family medicine
Autonomy | Reflects the experience that behavior is an expression of the self and generates a complete feeling of free will, also called volition, to choose whatever a person desires or considers useful to do |
Competence | To fulfill the need for competence, individuals must constantly search for and deal with challenges so as to optimize their skills and capacities |
Relatedness | Reflects the desire to feel connected with others, to care and be cared for, and to have a sense of belongingness, both with significant other individuals as well as with a significant community. Rather than being a formal membership of a group or a relationship, relatedness is intended to be a psychological construct |