Self-determined motivation in sport and exercise groups

[Extract] The purpose of this chapter is to review past SDT-related research with a keen eye toward applying these findings to group PA settings. To facilitate this objective, we have built on an approach akin to the motivational sequence within SDT and one identified by Vallerand (8) within his Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation (HMIEM) to provide a contemporary schematic of work in PA settings from an SDT approach (see Figure 15.1). Maintaining the same ‘social factors? psychological mediators? motivation? outcomes’ sequence, we have updated this approach aligned with recent research directions to also encompass need-supportive and need-thwarting contexts, need frustration, and context-specific goal contents. Drawing from this model, we subsequently review extant work grounded in SDT, discussing a number of matters pertaining to measurement of motivational processes at the group level. Within the penultimate section we suggest some practical applications. Finally, we conclude by highlighting a number of research directions that appear promising for future SDT work.