Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Life Goals, Psychological Needs and Life Satisfaction
Background: According to Self Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan, 1991 Ryan, 1995) personal well being is a direct function of the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. These are the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Factors in the person or situation that facilitate autonomy, competence, and relatedness are expected to enhance well being, whereas factors that detract from fulfillment of these needs should undermine well being.Several lines of research (Kasser and Ryan 1993, 1996, 2001) have shown that investment in, or success at, so called intrinsic goals (those closely related to basic needs) is associated with enhanced wellbeing. On the other hand, investment in and/or success at extrinsic goals (those presumed to be unrelated to basic needs) does not enhance, and often detracts from, well being. Aims: The present study examined the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic goals, satisfaction of basic psychological needs and life satisfaction and vitality. Life satisfaction and vitality are considered aspects of well being. Method: Five questionnaires, Aspiration Index (Kasser Ryan, 1996) The Basic Psychological Needs Scale (Deci and Ryan, 1997) Subjective vitality scale (Ryan and Frederick, 1997) and The Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener, 1985) were administered to 373 college students (from 19 to 21 years old) The Aspiration Index include the extrinsic aspirations of wealth, fame, and image and the intrinsic aspirations of meaningful relationships, personal growth, and community contributions. The Basic Psychological Needs Scale has 21 items concerning the needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Results /Theoretical advancements: Factor analysis of Aspiration index items showed two factors intrinsic and extrinsic goals. The same structure was found for analysis of ratings of the importance of goals, present achievemnt of goals and expectation of goal achievement in future. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that best predictors of life satisfaction were expectation of achieiving intrinsic goals in the future, satisfaction of needs for competence and autonomy and importance of extrinsic goals. On the other hand, vitality was best predicted by present achievement of extrinsic goals, expectation of achieiving intrinsic goals in the future and satisfaction of needs for competence and relatedness. It was hypothesized that intrinsic goals would predict life satisfaction and vitality indirectly through satisfaction of basic psychological needs. Extrinsic goals, on the other hand, would not be related to life satisfaction.Results from path analysis demonstrated that effect of present achievement of intrinsic goals on life satisfaction was significant both directly and indirectly (through satisfaction of basic needs) The present achievement of extrinsic goals, on the other hand, was not related to life satisfaction. Conclusions: It was concluded that well being is related to various aspects of both intrinsic and extrinsic goals. It seems that there is an indirect effect of intrinsic goals on life satisfaction both directly and indirectly (through satisfaction of basic needs)