Motivation and happiness

[Edited to add Cafe Press info at the bottom of the post.]

This doodle is loosely based on a lecture by Marc Fournier (University of Toronto) discussing findings by psychologist Edward Deci. Specifically:

One of the foremost researchers in the area of motivation is psychologist Edward Deci at the University of Rochester. Deci's model suggests that students will be more motivated to learn when particular needs have been met. Deci articulates three such needs:
(a) to feel a sense of belonging and connectedness to the school (I would add the words "to feel welcome"),
(b) to feel a sense of autonomy and self-determination, and
(c) to feel competent. (skillset and level of challenge must be appropriately matched)

In his lecture, Fournier suggested that these are three universal psychological needs (to be choiceful, connected to others, to feel capable) shared by all people and that all three are of equal importance. If these needs are not met, it will impact:

• our ability to meet our full potential
• our capacity to grow
• our ability to flourish and thrive
• our ability to experience happiness

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