Core values

- **Addresses Societal Needs and Issues**: Self-Determination Theory (SDT) focuses on the fulfillment of basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) which are crucial for human well-being and development. It addresses issues such as motivation, social integration, and health, which are significant societal concerns[2][3][5].
- **Improves Quality of Life**: SDT has been applied in various domains, including education, health, and organizations, to enhance intrinsic motivation, performance, persistence, and creativity. It also contributes to improved well-being, vitality, and self-esteem[2][3][5].
- **Promotes Positive Change**: By identifying the conditions that facilitate or undermine intrinsic motivation and psychological need fulfillment, SDT helps in designing social environments that optimize human development and well-being. This can lead to positive changes in individual and community functioning[2][3].
- **Contributes to Community Well-being**: The theory is used in social prescribing initiatives, such as the Links Worker Programme, to improve the well-being of individuals in socioeconomically deprived areas by connecting them to community resources and enhancing their sense of relatedness, competence, and autonomy[1].