Self-affirmation and self-determined motivation

Self-affirmation can both increase and reduce motivation, depending on the context in which it is applied. The present research examines the conditions under which self-affirmation enhances versus undermines self-determined motivation. To address this question, we integrate self-affirmation theory with self-determination theory, focusing on the role of competence need satisfaction following failure. Across three studies, participants engaged in a dexterity task and failed. Study 1 showed that self-affirmation reduced self-determined motivation when failure was inevitable and competence satisfaction was unlikely. Study 2 demonstrated that this demotivating effect emerged only when the goal was perceived as unattainable, but not when competence satisfaction remained possible. Study 3 further indicated that self-affirmation increased self-determined motivation in a challenging yet competence-supportive context. Together, these findings show that the effects of self-affirmation on motivation are context-dependent. Self-affirmation reduces motivation when effort cannot meaningfully satisfy the need for competence, but enhances motivation when goal pursuit remains competence-supportive.