title: On the investigation of primed and chronic autonomous and heteronomous motivational orientations.
abstract: Four studies examined primed and chronic autonomous and heteronomous motivations. Study 1 showed that autonomy and heteronomy can be primed and influence perceptions and behavior in a way consistent with consciously regulated motives. In Study 2, a measure of chronic motivation was developed and its construct validity and reliability were assessed. In Study 3, the chronicity measure predicted behavior while consciously regulated motives predicted intention but not behavior. Results of Study 4 replicated results of the priming manipulation in Study 1. However, this effect was moderated by level of motivational chronicity. The priming effect was found to be stronger for non-chronics than for chronics. Overall, the findings suggest that autonomous and heteronomous motivations can be regulated automatically as well as consciously.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield 65804, USA. chl131f@smsu.edu
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levesque
authors.forename: Luc G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Pelletier
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D018187:Personal Construct Theory; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011340:Problem Solving; D012649:Self Concept; D012718:Set, Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception