ABSTRACT
The need for competence has a well-established tradition (e.g., White, 1959) and features prominently across various theoretical frameworks. For instance, in cognitive evaluation theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), competence need fulfillment is critical in determining intrinsic motivation. Other theorists cite competence needs as central to achievement motivation as well (e.g., Elliot & Dweck, 2005). Susan Fiske (2004), in her core motives approach to social psychology, emphasized control or competence needs as fundamental to understanding human behavior across the social psychological spectrum. Maslow (1971), too, emphasized the importance of developing strengths in the pursuit of self-actualization. Competence needs have been shown to be uniquely related to wellbeing, even above and beyond other candidate needs such as autonomy and relatedness (e.g., Reis, Sheldon, Gable, Roscoe, & Ryan, 2000).
