Why We Do What We Do

The "groundbreaking" psychologist delivers an in-depth study on how to find and foster authentic motivation in employees, children, athletes, and yourself (The New York Times).

The person who chases every weight-loss trend without losing a pound. The successful businessman whose personal relationships fail. The student who aces a test but doesn't retain any knowledge. These are everyday scenarios that point to the wrong kind of motivation, a drive that doesn't come from within, but that is propelled by destructive outside forces. 

For more than twenty-five years, Edward L. Deci explored what social and inner forces influence motivation, and what he found might shock you. Rewards and punishments don't work. What does is tapping into each person's inherent need to feel competent and free in an environment that nurtures such values. With real-world experiments, Deci digs deeply into the human psyche to develop an alternate approach that focuses on acting in accord with one's inner self. True self-motivation is at the heart of creativity, responsibility, healthy behavior, and lasting change. 

"An insightful and provocative meditation on how people can become more genuinely engaged and successful in pursuing their goals." —Publishers Weekly

"Edward L. Deci is one of the most incisive, insightful and important thinkers in psychology today." —Daniel Goleman, New York Times–bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence