Psychologist Edward L. Deci died on Feb. 14, 2026. He was 83. His loss is humanity’s loss. His life was humanity’s great gain. If you ever felt your motivation drain away under a micromanaging boss, ...

Motivation is the intangible force that influences the direction and intensity of our behavior, propelling us toward or directing us away from achieving our goals. While incentives can provide a short ...

We sometimes look at motivation backwards: We assume there must be an outcome or reward in order to get ourselves or others motivated to act. This is not what science shows us. One of the key ...

Pacing the stage, his hands moving in rhythm with his words, Dr. Edward L. Deci explained the topic that had fascinated him for decades. “I love motivation,” he said in a TEDxFlourCity talk. “It’s ...

Bonuses or good grades... We reward actions that we want to encourage and foster. What if these rewards were the poison that gradually kills motivation? This is what researchers have been ...