Self-Determination Theory (SDT) has evolved over the past 30 years from psychological research done by Edward L. Deci, Richard M. Ryan, and their collaborators from around the world.  Deci and Ryan are professors in the Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology at the University of Rochester, where they direct a pre- and post-doctoral training program focused on SDT.

This website presents a brief overview of SDT and provides resources that address important issues such as human needs, values, intrinsic motivation, development, motivation across cultures, individual differences, and psychological well-being. Also addressed are the applications of Self-Determination Theory to:

Questionnaires developed to assess SDT concepts are displayed and can be downloaded by interested researchers.