ABSTRACT

Why we do what we do Title of prominent motivational researcher Edward L. Deci and

R. Flaste’s 1995 book on ‘understanding self-motivation’

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce key concepts of motivation, including early research efforts made in an attempt to understand exercise participation. In particular, these concepts will be placed in the wider context of different types of correlates of physical activity. Subsequent chapters will deal with specific motivational theories in more detail. Specifically, we have the following objectives for this chapter:

physical activity ● to discuss the literature dealing with descriptive approaches to motivation, such as that

addressing children’s and adults’ participation motives and reasons for ceasing participation, as well as the identification of barriers to physical activity

● to describe and comment on early approaches to the study of exercise and physical activity correlates.