Huffington Post: NFL Draft Preparation: Put Your Money Where Your Mindset IsMarch 3, 2013 by Walter
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 of Rochester, SDT is a theory of motivation that emphasizes social connectedness with peers, a confidence in one’s own autonomous capability and a system of self-advocacy based on reinforcing a sense of individual efficacy…..
Press Release: New book by University of Queensland facultyFebruary 28, 2013 by Walter
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) to examine the effect of motivation and personality on a child’s behaviour.
Authors Professor Jenny Ziviani, Dr Anne Poulsen and Associate Professor Monica Cuskelly combine years of clinical and research experience to provide practitioners with a sound theoretical basis that supports the way they engage with children and their parents in therapy.
Professor Ziviani, from UQ’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, said the book highlighted the importance of children and parents being involved in decisions around a child’s care and the need for practitioners to provide information in a comprehensible fashion.
“We encourage practitioners to provide choice where possible, as this helps children and parents feel they are active participants in therapy and therefore more likely to be committed to achieving their goals,” she said.
“We also examine the importance of the relationship between the therapist and the child/parent; if a child does not want to come along to therapy then this will adversely influence a whole range of outcomes.
Originally published by the University of Queensland Australia:
Slate Magazine: Experts Say Not to Bribe Kids. I’ll Give you $10 and Stale Candy if You Prove Them WrongJanuary 15, 2013 by Walter
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. “Practically anyone, practically anything.”
But with children, he pointed out, since you are trying to get them to do the behavior “more or less ongoingly for the rest of their lives,” the technique will backfire unless you’re prepared to offer the same reward every time. “You don’t want them coming to you when they’re grown,” he said.
But are any of us really trying to get our kids to do the things we want them to do for the rest of their lives, or are we simply trying to force short-term results on immediate problems? A mom I know—let’s just say her name rhymes with Schmallison Schmenedikt—may have offered treats and awesome band-aids while trying to get her toddler out of diapers and into Disney-themed underwear (itself a reward for some other good behavior), but don’t we all say things like, “You shouldn’t stress about potty training! It’s not like little Bobby will still be in diapers when he’s 15!” You aren’t really training your child to shit in the toilet forever—he would likely pick up that skill with or without you. You are training your child to shit in the toilet next week, because lord you cannot stomach another diapers.com order.
Wired: Compelling Design is About Psychology, Not TechnologyJanuary 14, 2013 by Walter
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 few years the health and wellness industry, like any other, cycles through hot trends and buzzwords. In the last few years there’s been quite a bit of focus in “gamification” in health. The idea is that gamifying a health solution, like a weight loss app, will make it more appealing and addictive to the user. It will make the app stick, and therefore lead to better outcomes.
New York Times: Train a Parent, Spare a ChildJanuary 11, 2013 by Walter
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. “Practically anyone, practically anything.”
But with children, he pointed out, since you are trying to get them to do the behavior “more or less ongoingly for the rest of their lives,” the technique will backfire unless you’re prepared to offer the same reward every time. “You don’t want them coming to you when they’re grown,” he said.
Dr. Deci recommends a three-step alternative. First, be clear about why what you’re asking them do is important. Second, be interested in their point of view. “If it’s something they hate doing, acknowledge that, tell them you understand it’s not fun, yet the reason they need to do it is as follows,” he said. Finally, communicate in a way that’s not controlling. “Don’t use words like ‘should,’ ‘must’ and ‘have to,’ ” he said. “All of those things that convey to them you’re a big person trying to push around a little person.”
CNBC: Inside Employee Motivation: Does Money Really Make a DifferenceNovember 26, 2012 by Walter
November 26th 2012
“How do you keep your employees motivated? How do you show them that their work is valued? Many small business owners use bonuses or raises, and while everyone loves a little extra cash, motivating your team with money may not be as effective as you think. When used poorly, monetary rewards can feel like coercion, an effect you see in the classic carrot-and-stick approach to motivation.
“Unless you’re extremely careful with how you use rewards, you get people who are just working for the money,” said Edward Deci, a human motivation psychologist at University of Rochester.”
Wired News: How ‘Gamification’ Can Make Your Customer Service WorseNovember 14, 2012 by Walter
November 14th 2012.
They call it gamification. The idea is to take familiar aspects of electronic games and apply them to customer support software and other applications used in the business world. This often involves awarding points for tasks and some sort of system for turning those points into other rewards, like a “badge” attached to your online profile or perhaps prizes or bonus pay.
As Sierra points out, gamification replaces an intrinsic reward with an extrinsic one. In other words, it shifts a participant’s motivation from doing something because it is inherently rewarding to doing it for some other reason that isn’t as meaningful. This, she says, is ultimately less motivating…
Globe and Mail: When we’re at our bestNovember 12, 2012 by Walter
November 12th 2012.
“Richard Ryan, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester in New York, studies human motivation and how it affects psychological well-being,” says The Wall Street Journal. “His work has shown that people who pursue extrinsic goals, such as money, image and fame, are less happy than those who focus on goals that they define for themselves, irrespective of what society may say. The happier ones have decoupled their own sense of self-worth from material possessions or recognition. And, says Ryan, it’s harder to be in a relationship with someone who is focused on money. ‘If you’re somebody who finds wealth and material goods really important, probably you’re putting less emphasis on intimacy and closeness with others,’ he says. ‘And the people around you may be less satisfied in their relationship with you.’ ”
Thought du jour
“The past almost always seems cozier than the present, because you can no longer remember the fears and uncertainties that clouded your future at the time. And whatever the case, you were 40 years younger.”
NothernLife.ca: A little fresh airNovember 5, 2012 by Walter
November 5th 2012.
“Nature is fuel for the soul,” said Richard Ryan, author and professor of psychology at the University of Rochester.
“Nature is something within which we flourish, so having it be more a part of our lives is critical, especially when we live and work in built environments.”
