Goal Contents Theory
Updated 2026-08-08
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
A sub-theory of self-determination theory, developed by Tim Kasser and Richard Ryan. It distinguishes intrinsic goals, such as personal growth, close relationships, and community contribution, from extrinsic goals, such as wealth, fame, and image. Intrinsic goals directly satisfy the basic needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness; extrinsic goals do not, and tend to divert attention from need satisfaction. Research links intrinsic goal pursuit with greater well-being and extrinsic pursuit with lower well-being and more distress.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Audit goals: sort your current aims into intrinsic and extrinsic before deciding what to pursue - Rebalance your aims: keep extrinsic goals instrumental and expand growth and relationship goals - Test satisfaction: ask whether achieving this would actually satisfy a basic need
Anchor fast decisions
Well-being depends on satisfying autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Intrinsic goals are defined by those satisfactions, so pursuing them builds well-being directly. Extrinsic goals are defined by external markers, and attaining them leaves the underlying needs untouched while consuming the time that would have met them, which is why their pursuit correlates with lower well-being even when it succeeds.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-determination_theoryverified
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