Self-Determination Theory identifies which trio as essential for a rewarding job?

• A. Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness
• B. Autonomy, Wealth, Status
• C. Confidence, Skill, Discipline
• D. Creativity, Collaboration, Challenge

Answer: (A)

Self-Determination Theory focuses on three basic psychological needs that drive motivation and satisfaction at work: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Autonomy means feeling in control of your own actions; competence means feeling effective and capable; relatedness means feeling connected to and supported by others. When these needs are met, work becomes rewarding because you experience choice, mastery, and belonging, which boosts intrinsic motivation and well-being. External rewards like wealth or status don’t capture these inherent needs, and traits like confidence or skill, or aspects like creativity and collaboration, don’t map exactly to the three essential needs SDT identifies. So the trio associated with a rewarding job is autonomy, competence, and relatedness.