Scientific Definition
Self-direction is one of the deepest motivational levers.
Plain-English Definition
Self-direction is one of the deepest motivational levers.
Feynman Explanation
Tell people what; let them choose how.
Core Principle
Self-direction is one of the deepest motivational levers.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Self-direction is one of the deepest motivational levers.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
Tell people what; let them choose how.
Examples
- Engineering teams given direction outperform teams given instructions.
- Micromanagement is a motivational tax.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Define outcomes; protect autonomy over methods.
Measurement Approaches
Pending editorial review.
Evidence
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
- Define outcomes; protect autonomy over methods.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Interactive Mini Network
Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.
Knowledge Graph Neighbors
Auto-linked to the rest of the Human Behavior Taxonomy by family, domain, dimension, and shared keywords.
Doing something for an external reward.
Doing something because the doing is the reward.
The drive to get better at things that matter.
Adding external rewards reduces intrinsic motivation.
Meaning beyond the task multiplies motivation.
Humans need autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
Belief in one's ability to execute.
Naming an emotion reduces its intensity.
Cumulative physiological wear from chronic stress.
Emotional override of rational processing.
Brain region tracking conflict, error, and effort.
We treat AI as more humanlike than it is.