More Direction but Less Freedom? How Task Rules Affect Intrinsic Motivation

被引:4
作者
Mutter, Elizabeth R. [1 ,3 ]
Liu, Zhenxu [1 ,2 ]
Gollwitzer, Peter M. [1 ]
Oettingen, Gabriele [1 ]
机构
[1] NYU, Dept Psychol, New York, NY USA
[2] Columbia Univ, Fu Fdn Sch Engn & Appl Sci, New York, NY USA
[3] NYU, Dept Psychol, 6 Washington Pl, New York, NY 10003 USA
关键词
rules; intrinsic motivation; sense of direction; psychological freedom; basic psychological need theory; SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY; MEDIATION ANALYSIS; AUTONOMY; CHOICE; PSYCHOLOGY; EXPERIENCE; SUPPORT; MODELS; FLOW; INTERNALIZATION;
D O I
10.1037/xge0001348
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
Task rules restrict freedom by definition, but do they necessarily harm intrinsic motivation? We examine how task rules for an open-ended writing activity affect intrinsic motivation, or enjoyment, with one's sense of direction and psychological freedom as potential mechanisms. Results from three online experiments (Experiment 1, Experiments 3a and 3b; N = 1,176), conducted with both undergraduate student and adult (Amazon MTurk and Prolific) samples, suggest that task rules may indirectly increase enjoyment by enhancing direction (indirect effect: beta's range [0.09, 0.17], p's < .05), yet at the same time, indirectly decrease enjoyment by reducing freedom (indirect effect: beta's range [-0.31, -0.07], p's < .05). Results from a fourth online experiment (Experiment 2; student sample; N = 121) address a potential alternative explanation, finding that only the task rules, not mere examples, were sufficient to increase direction (rules present: d = 0.55, p = .04; examples: d = 0.25, p = .48) and reduce freedom (rules present: d = 0.78, p < .001; examples: d = 0.22, p = .31). Theoretical and empirical connections are made to self-determination theory and flow theory. Further research is needed to delineate situational and personal factors that may moderate these effects.
引用
收藏
页码:1484 / 1501
页数:18
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