ABSTRACT
There are many common-sense notions about motivation. One, for example, is that we simply need ‘to be motivated’ in order to be an exerciser or that large amounts of ‘willpower’ are needed. While the quantity of motivation can be important, the ‘quality’ of motivation is likely to be more crucial. In other words, motivation is more about ‘how’ than ‘how much’. The purpose of this chapter is to extend the motivational analysis of physical activity by considering the notion of feelings of perceived control, autonomy and intrinsic motivation, particularly by outlining a popular theory of motivation: Self-Determination Theory. In addition, we will also consider the notion of ‘habit’ whereby some behaviours may be driven more by unconscious, or less conscious, processes. Of course, many of the chapters in this book are concerned with ‘motivation’ in a broad sense – attitudes, condence, stages of change – but in this chapter we also dene motivation and consider several perspectives, including a few myths of motivation within the physical activity context. Specically, in this chapter we aim to:
● dene and explore types of motivation; ● consider a framework for the understanding of perceptions of control; ● appreciate the potential of perceptions of control, expectancies and value as determi-
nants of physical activity; ● develop an understanding of intrinsic motivational processes, specically in terms of
Cognitive Evaluation Theory and perceptions of autonomy (Self-Determination Theory); ● consider how rewards and reinforcement might aect intrinsic motivation and behaviour; ● understand the role of beliefs concerning physical activity ability and a ‘growth mindset’
in motivation; ● dene the concept of ‘habit’ and consider how habits are developed; ● discuss the popular idea of ‘nudging’ people into healthy behaviours.
