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Lifehacker.com: The Complex Relationship Between Happiness and MotivationAugust 18, 2014 by Walter

August 18th 2014.

Scientists Richard M. Ryan from the University of Rochester and Christina Frederick from the University of Southern Utah have taken an extensive look at the concept of subjective vitality as a reflection of well-being.

Ryan and Frederick argue that subjective vitality is enhanced when the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are satisfied. They especially emphasize the role of autonomy on energy levels—when the action comes from one’s own decisions, as opposed to being demanded to think or behave in a certain way by someone else. While autonomous behavior can maintain or enhance levels of energy, controlled behavior feels like a drain on personal energy. As a manager or director, this means that giving more freedom to employees can improve their feelings of well-being—and perhaps their productivity.

In one study, Ryan and Frederick found that when samples from both a pain and a weight-loss clinic reported more controlled reasons for being in treatment, they showed less vitality than than those who had autonomous reasons for participating.

This shows that intrinsic motivation increases the level of subjective vitality, or our perceived energy level. Autonomy can thus foster feelings of energy and well-being. So if you want higher energy levels from your team members, make sure to give them autonomy over their own tasks.

For more information:
http://lifehacker.com/the-complex-relationship-between-happiness-and-motivati-1623287744

Originally published by Alina Vrabi

SDT Researchers Conduct Virtualized Intervention for DiabetesAugust 1, 2014 by Walter

August 1st 2014.

The Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) research program was conducted as a pilot evaluation of a partly virtualized intervention that delivered content along with 6 monthly visits with a registered dietitian. The results of this intervention produced clinically significant weight loss and improvements in glycemic control, blood pressure, and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.”

The use of technology in clinical settings is of interest because virtualized interventions can reduce clinical contact time and increase reach in the population. The Virtual Look AHEAD Program demonstrated that a Virtual Clinician can be perceived as supportive of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness and that those perceptions predict motivation for managing weight loss, which has significant associations with weight-loss outcomes. These results highlight an opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of practitioners through the implementation of need-supportive, online lifestyle interventions.

Global Guru’s names Ed Deci and Rich Ryan as two of the “Worlds Top 30 Education Professionals for 2014.”July 29, 2014 by Walter

On July 29, 2014, Edward Deci and Richard Ryan were honored with impressive rankings of Numbers 14 and 22 in the Education category for Global Gurus. Congratulations Ed and Rich!

Edward L Deci is professor of psychology and Gowen Professor in the Social Sciences at the University of Rochester. Engaged in a program of research on human motivation that has led to Self Determination Theory which was applied in many contexts in order to anticipate and observe behavioral changes. He published ten books which are translated into many languages including Japanese, German and Spanish. He gives lectures and consultation to many corporations, public school systems, mental health agencies, universities and government bureaus of many nations.

Richard Ryan is a member of clinical faculty and Director of Clinical Training as well as a member of several associations. He has published 250 articles based on research chapters and became the co-developer with Edward L Deci on Self Determination Theory SDT. He also did a collaboration with a number of graduates for doing a wide range of research including ostracism and stigmatization, mindfulness and health and motivated decision making. He also explores the cross cultural importance of human demands for autonomy and relatedness the sources of within person variability in vitality and the characteristics and consequences of eudaimonia.

– See more at: http://www.globalgurus.org/education/educationgurus30.php#sthash.7Nt1PPUJ.dpuf

Oxford Handbook of Work Engagement, Motivation, & Self-Determination TheoryMay 21, 2014 by Walter

NEWLY RELEASED in May 2014…The Oxford Handbook of Work Motivation, Engagement, and Self-Determination Theory is edited by SDT Faculty, Marylène Gagné and aims to give current and future organizational researchers ideas for future research using self-determination theory as a framework, and to give practitioners ideas on how to adjust their programs and practices using self-determination theory principles.

The book brings together self-determination theory experts and organizational psychology experts to talk about past and future applications of the theory to the field of organizational psychology. The book covers a wide range of topics, including: how to bring about commitment, engagement, and passion in the workplace; how to manage stress, health, emotions and violence at work; how to encourage safe and sustainable behavior in organizations; how factors like attachment styles, self-esteem, person-environment fit, job design, leadership, compensation, and training affect work motivation; and how work-related values and goals are forged by the work environment and affect work outcomes.

Living Green Magazine: Being in Nature Makes Us Healthier & HappierMay 2, 2014 by Walter

May 2, 2014.

Studies show that those who live among nature are the most happy and healthy.

That doesn’t surprise us.

While the city is a great place to live, work and play, you have to admit that getting out and reconnecting with nature feels good. We’re not saying that urban areas resemble the opening scene from “Terminator 2,” but research has consistently shown that mental health issues, including mood and anxiety disorders, are more prevalent in city dwellers.

Being around more trees, on the other hand, lowers stress and depression and improves work productivity. Studies have even found that pregnant women living in houses graced by more trees were significantly less likely to deliver undersized babies.

Just 20 minutes a day among the trees can boost your mood and energy levels, studies show.

“Nature is fuel for the soul,” said Richard Ryan, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, in a release. “Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.”

By Jennifer Mosscrop.

Human Motivation and Interpersonal RelationshipsApril 25, 2014 by Walter

Just recently released in early 2014, Human Motivation and Interpersonal Relationships, edited by SDT Faculty Netta Weinstein, summarizes and organizes a growing body of research supporting the role of motivation in adaptive and rewarding interpersonal interactions with others.

Many outstanding SDT scholars have contributed to this book and their research in the fields of SDT and interpersonal relationships is nicely reflected here. Both fields have seen extensive growth in the past decade and each can contribute to the other. However, no single compiled work is available that targets both fields. This is the case, in part, because only now is there enough work to make a strong and compelling case for their integration. In the previous years, research has been conducted to show that motivation is relevant and important for interactions among strangers and in close relationships. In addition, developmental mechanisms for these relations are identified, and mechanisms by which motivation strengthens people’s relationships. Finally, recent work has demonstrated the many implications for interpersonal relationships, showing that motivation impacts a range of interpersonal processes from prejudice regulation and objectification of others to empathy and care. This book seeks to summarize and organize all these findings and present them in a way that is relevant to both motivation researchers and social and relationship researchers.

Forbes.com: 4 Steps to Reaching Your Money Goals — Faster!April 24, 2014 by Walter

April 24, 2014.

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to managing my finances, I can often come up with a whole list of things I’d much rather do … including cleaning out the fridge.

But, as someone who’s studied positive psychology, I know that the first step in reaching new heights is setting a goal, and the hard part is sticking with your intention long enough to reach it.

With that in mind, I wanted to share four proven strategies to keep you on the path to wherever you’re headed with your money. Consider these pointers on the psychology of money management.

1. Identify Your Motivation

What is it you really, really want? To answer this honestly, it helps to know where your motivation comes from, explain Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, psychology professors at the University of Rochester. There are two types of motivation that govern human behavior: intrinsic motivation, which means being driven from within or doing something because we find it personally enjoyable; and extrinsic motivation, which involves being driven by something outside of ourselves or an external reward (example: studying to get a good grade, not for the sake of learning).

By Stella Grizont

Natural News: Spending Money on Experience, Rather than Items, Increases HappinessApril 19, 2014 by Walter

April 19, 2014.

Richard Ryan quoted on spending money and happiness in Natural News…

“Nature is fuel for the soul. Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature,” said the study’s lead author, Richard Ryan, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/044786_money_life_experiences_happiness.html##ixzz32SGy4GlW

By Julie Wilson

Rochester City Newspaper: Game RageApril 16, 2014 by Walter

April 16, 2014

A New [SDT] Study…

It’s not the video game per se that’s causing your rage; it’s the fact that you stink at it, says a new study from the University of Rochester.

Intense feelings of anger after gaming are not unusual, the study says, but the content of the games is not to blame. The hostile behavior some gamers experience is actually linked to a sense of failure, the study says.

The finding is the work of Andrew Przbylski at Oxford University and Richard Ryan at the UR. Their research, which recently appeared in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, is the first to examine what gamers experience while playing.

And they discovered that it’s the failure to master the game that leads to frustration and aggression. Whether or not the game’s content is violent doesn’t matter, Ryan says.

Ryan says he has long been interested in what drives gamers. He says the violence in the games is definitely an attraction to some people. But in their work with 300 gamers, Ryan and Przbylski say they found that threatening people’s sense of competency often causes them to become aggressive.

That sense of competence is integral to what motivates people, Ryan says. Conversely, people who win games have a positive experience of being entertained, Ryan says, and they don’t feel aggressive.

The aggressive response to failure is not unique to gaming, he says. Individuals involved in sports have similar reactions, he says.

http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/game-rage/Content?oid=2362657

News category: News