The Motivational Pull of Video Games: A Self-Determination Theory Approach

• Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2001). Effects of violent video games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal and prosocial behavior: A meta-analytic review of the scientific literature. Psychological Science, 12, 353–359.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Bartle, R. (1996). Hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades: Players who suit MUDs. Journal of MUD Research, 1 (1). Retrieved October 3, 2006, from http://www.mud.co.uk/richard/hcds.htm

• Bartle, R. A. (2004). Designing virtual worlds. Berkeley, CA: New Riders.

  Google Scholar 

• Bostic, T. J., Rubio, D. M., & Hood, M. (2000). A validation of the subjective vitality scale using structural equation modeling. Social Indicators Research, 52, 313–324.

  Article  Google Scholar 

• Bryk, A. S., & Raudenbush, S. W. (1992). Hierarchical linear models: Applications and data analysis methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

  Google Scholar 

• Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow. New York: Harper.

  Google Scholar 

• Deci, E. L. (1975). Intrinsic motivation. New York: Plenum.

  Google Scholar 

• Deci, E. L., Koestner, R., & Ryan, R. M. (1999). A Meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 627–668.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1980). The Empirical exploration of intrinsic motivational processes. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (vol. 13, pp. 39–80). New York: Academic Press.

  Google Scholar 

• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.

  Google Scholar 

• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227–268.

  Article  Google Scholar 

• Diener, E. & Emmons, R. A. (1984) The independence of positive and negative affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 1105–1117.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Frederick, C., & Ryan, R. M. (1993). Differences in motivation for sport and exercise and their relations with participation and mental health. Journal of Sport Behavior, 16, 124–146.

  Google Scholar 

• Frederick, C. M., & Ryan, R. M. (1995). Self-determination in sport: A review using cognitive evaluation theory. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 26, 5–23.

  Google Scholar 

• Gee, J. P. (2003). What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. New York: Palgrave Macmillian.

  Google Scholar 

• Gentile, D. A., & Anderson, C. A. (2003). Violent video games: The newest media violence hazard. In D. Gentile (Ed.), Media violence and children (pp. 131–152). Westport, CT: Praeger.

  Google Scholar 

• Hagger, M. S., Chatzisarantis, N. L. D., Culverhouse, T., & Biddle, S. J. H. (2003). The process by which perceived autonomy support in physical education promotes leisure-time physical activity intentions and behavior: A trans-contextual model. Journal of Educational Psychology, 95, 784–795.

  Article  Google Scholar 

• Healy, J. M. (1990). Endangered minds. New York: Simon and Schuster.

  Google Scholar 

• Johnson, S. (2005). Everything bad is good for you. New York: Riverhead Books.

  Google Scholar 

• Jones, G. (2002). Killing monsters: Why children need fantasy, super heroes, and make-believe violence. New York: Basic Books.

  Google Scholar 

• Kirsch, S. J. (2006). Children, adolescents, and media violence. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  Google Scholar 

• Koster, R. (2005). A theory of fun for game design. Scottsdale, AZ: Paraglyph Press.

  Google Scholar 

• La Guardia, J. G., Ryan, R. M., Couchman, C. E., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Within-person variation in security of attachment: A Self-determination theory perspective on attachment, need fulfillment, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 367–384.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Lombard, M., & Ditton, T. (1997). At the heart of it all: The concept of presence. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 3(2). Retrieved October 3, 2006, from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol3/issue2/lombard.html

• Lombard, M., Ditton, T. B., Crane, D., Davis, B., Gil-Egui, G., Horvath, K., Rossman, J., & Park, S. (2000). Measuring presence: A literature-based approach to the development of a standardized paper-and-pencil instrument. Presented at the Third International Workshop on Presence, Delft, The Netherlands.

• Malone, T. & Lepper, M. (1987). Making learning fun: A taxonomy of intrinsic motivations in learning. In R. E. Snow & M. J. Farr (Eds.)Aptitude, learning and instruction: vol. 3. Conative and affective process analyses (pp. 223–253). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

• O’Brien, E. J., & Epstein, S. (1988). The Multidimensional self-esteem inventory: Professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

  Google Scholar 

• Raudenbush, R. W., Bryk, A., Cheong, Y. F., & Congdon, R. (2000). HLM5: Hierarchical linear and nonlinear modeling. Chicago: Scientific Software International.

  Google Scholar 

• Rigby, S. (2004). Player Motivational Analysis: A model for applied research into the motivational dynamics of virtual worlds. Presented to the Motivation Research Group, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.

• Ryan, R. M. (1995). Psychological needs and the facilitation of integrative processes. Journal of Personality, 63, 397–427.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Ryan, R. M. & Brown, K. W. (2005). Legislating competence: The motivational impact of high stakes testing as an educational reform. In C. Dweck & A. E. Elliot (Eds.), Handbook of Competence (pp. 354–374) New York: Guilford Press

  Google Scholar 

• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000a). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25, 54–67.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000b). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 68–78.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A Review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. In S. Fiske (Ed.), Annual Review of Psychology (vol. 52, pp. 141–166). Palo Alto, CA: Annual Reviews, Inc.

  Google Scholar 

• Ryan, R. M., & Frederick, C. M. (1997). On energy, personality, and health: Subjective vitality as a dynamic reflection of well-being. Journal of Personality, 65, 529–565.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Ryan, R. M., Mims, V., & Koestner, R. (1983). Relation of reward contingency and interpersonal context to intrinsic motivation: A Review and test using cognitive evaluation theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 736–750.

  Article  Google Scholar 

• Setzer, V. W., & Duckett, G. E. (2000). The risks to children using electronic games. Retrieved October 3, 2006, from http://www.ime.usp.br/∼vwsetzer/video-g-risks.html

• Vallerand, R. J., & Reid, G. (1984). On the causal effects of perceived competence on intrinsic motivation: A test of cognitive evaluation theory. Journal of Sport Psychology, 6, 94–102.

  Google Scholar 

• White, R. W. (1959). Motivation reconsidered: The Concept of competence. Psychological Review, 66, 297–333.

  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Yee, N. (2005, March 15). A model of player motivations. Retrieved October 3, 2006, from http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/archives/001298.php?page=1

• Yee, N. (in press). Motivations of play in online games. CyperberPsychology and Behavior.

• Yi, M. (2004, December 18). They got game: Stacks of new releases for hungry video enthusiasts mean its boom time for an industry now even bigger than Hollywood. San Francisco Chronicle, p. A1.

Download references