News

Scientific America: How to Be a Better Friend

April 11, 2013 by Shannon

April 11th 2013. “When a pal is struggling, it can be awfully tempting to grab him by the scruff of his neck and just tell him exactly what he should do. After all, isn’t giving good advice part of being a good friend? Perhaps not, according to researchers who study self-determination. Edward Deci, a psychology...

Huffington Post: NFL Draft Preparation: Put Your Money Where Your Mindset Is

March 3, 2013 by Shannon

March 3rd 2013. Nick Winkelman, the Director of Training Systems and Education at Athletes’ Performance’s Phoenix facility, has a mission to make his NFL hopefuls prepared for “the immensity of the moment.” He and his colleagues employ training techniques based on Self Determination Theory. Developed by Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan at the University...

Press Release: New book by University of Queensland faculty

February 28, 2013 by Shannon

February 28th 2013. A new book written by researchers from The University of Queensland and Queensland Health offers a unique guide for therapists and professionals to successfully work with children. The Art and Science of Motivation: A therapist’s guide to working with children, to be launched on March 4, uses Self Determination Theory (SDT)...

Slate Magazine: Experts Say Not to Bribe Kids. I’ll Give you $10 and Stale Candy if You Prove Them Wrong

January 15, 2013 by Shannon

January 15th 2013. “Dr. Deci, now a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, said the biggest problem with tangible rewards is that they actually work, at least in the short run. “If you want somebody to do something, and if you have enough money, you can get them do it,” he said....

Wired: Compelling Design is About Psychology, Not Technology

January 14, 2013 by Shannon

December 5th 2013. Image: niallkennedy/Flickr Don’t get me wrong: No one who’s held an iPhone can deny the appeal of beautifully designed technology. But what really makes a product stick has more to do with the psychology behind its design than its physical or functional features. It’s all about the how, not the what. Every...

New York Times: Train a Parent, Spare a Child

January 11, 2013 by Shannon

January 11th 2013. “Dr. Deci, now a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, said the biggest problem with tangible rewards is that they actually work, at least in the short run. “If you want somebody to do something, and if you have enough money, you can get them do it,” he said....

HRZone: 3 Lessons from Edward Deci on Why Cash Is Not King for Employee Motivation

December 5, 2012 by Shannon

December 5th 2012. Recognize This! – Cash is the currency of compensation, not motivation. I’ve written often about why cash not a good method for motivating employees (including my post yesterday as well as these older ones on cash bonuses incenting employees to quit and even sue). Edward Deci, a human motivation psychologist at...