Céline M. Blanchard

Les passions de l'ame: on obsessive and harmonious passion.

Passion is defined as a strong inclination toward an activity that people like, that they find important, and in which they invest time and energy. Two types of passion are proposed: obsessive and harmonious. Obsessive passion (OP) refers to a controlled internalization of an activity in ones identity that creates an internal pressure to engage in the activity that the person likes. Harmonious passion (HP) refers to an autonomous internalization that leads individuals to choose to engage in the activity that they like. HP promotes healthy adaptation whereas OP thwarts it by causing negative affect and rigid persistence. Results from four studies involving more than 900 participants from different populations supported the proposed conceptualization.

On the assessment of situational intrinsic and extrinsic motivation : the Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS).

The purpose of the present research was to develop and validate a situational (or state) measure of motivation, the Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS). The SIMS is designed to assess the constructs of intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and amotivation (E. L. Deci & R. M. Ryan, 1985, 1991) in field and laboratory settings. Five studies were conducted to develop and validate the SIMS. Overall, results show that the SIMS is composed of 4 internally consistent factors. The construct validity of the scale is also supported by correlations with other constructs as postulated by current theories. Moreover, the SIMS is responsive to experimental induction as evidenced by data gathered through a laboratory study. In sum, the SIMS represents a brief and versatile self-report measure of situational intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and amotivation.

The self in change: A longitudinal investigation of coping and self-determination processes

On the basis of theoretical work on self-determination, coping, and the self, this study aimed at understanding the role of both structural and flexible self variables in the process of adapting to change, and the consequences of this adaptation process. It was hypothesized that, in a changing situation, global self-determination, as a structural aspect of the self, would predict the coping strategies used to deal with this life change. Coping, in turn, was hypothesized to represent an adaptation process mediating the associations between global self-determination and various consequences. The consequences investigated included changes in psychological well-being and in flexible aspects of the self (i.e., new identity, contextual self-determined motivation). Using a three-wave design, this study tested these hypotheses among students experiencing the transition to university. Results obtained through structural equation modeling involving true change procedures provided support for most of the anticipated associations.

The protective role of general self-determination against ‘thin ideal’ media exposure on women’s body image and eating-related concerns:

Women’s responses to ‘thin ideal’ media pending their level of general self-determination (GSD) were examined. High and low GSD women (N = 99) viewed a ‘thin physique salient’ (TPS) video or a ‘thin physique non-salient’ (TPNS) video. Following exposure to the TPS video, perceptions of pressure from the media to be thin, body dissatisfaction, and concerns over quantity of food were greater for low but not high GSD women. However, high GSD women reported greater concerns over the quality of food they eat following exposure to the TPNS video. Prevention efforts aimed at enhancing GSD are discussed.

Measuring University Students' Regulatory Leisure Coping Styles: Planned Breathers or Avoidance?

Evidence suggests that leisure activities can be used as a means for coping with stress, but how leisure is used as an effective way to regulate difficult tasks is still unclear. Self-Determination Theory was used as a theoretical framework to propose two distinct approaches to regulatory leisure coping: the Planned-Breather Leisure Coping Style and the Avoidant Leisure Coping Style. The two proposed dimensions were tested and supported using a new scale with a university student population. Findings obtained in these studies suggested that regulatory orientation in a particular context was distinctively associated with the two proposed leisure coping styles and to different affective consequences following the regulation of a difficult task.

On the dynamic relationships between contextual (or general) and situational (or state) motivation toward exercise and physical activity: a longitudinal test of the top-down and bottom-up hypotheses.

Abstract The present research sought to test key postulates of the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation (HMIEM, Vallerand, 1997) in two different physical activity settings. Specifically, the top‐down and the recursive (bottom‐up) effects were tested with adult participants (n = 89) in a fitness center as well as with high school students (n = 168) in physical activity classes. Study 1 further assessed the positive consequences resulting from a self‐determined situational motivation while Study 2 tested the impact of the perceived motivational climate on students’ situational motivation. Two short‐term longitudinal designs (with three measurement times in Study 1 and five measurement times in Study 2) were used. These models enabled the investigation of the interplay between the contextual and the situational levels of the motivational hierarchy over time. Overall, the results of Study 1 and Study 2 supported the postulates of the HMIEM (Vallerand, 1997). Furthermore, the results of Study 1 showed that self‐determined situational motivation predicted positive outcome variables (i.e., positive emotions and concentration) while the results of Study 2 showed the significant relationship between a perceived mastery climate and self‐determined situational motivation. The present findings allow us to hypothesize the existence of a dynamic process through which changes in contextual self‐determined motivation may take place over time

Posttraumatic Growth and Bereavement: The Contribution of Self-Determination Theory

No research drawing from Self-Determination Theory has investigated the bereavement experience of individuals or how motivation can help facilitate posttraumatic growth (PTG) following the death of a loved one. In two cross-sectional studies, university students completed an online survey. Study 1 investigated the contribution of global autonomous and controlled motivation in statistically predicting PTG above and beyond previously researched correlates. Study 2 explored the mediating role of cognitive appraisals and coping in explaining the relationship between global motivation orientations and PTG. Results indicated that in comparison to controlled motivation, autonomous motivation was positively related PTG, even after controlling for previously researched correlates. Mediation results indicated an indirect effect of global autonomous motivation on PTG through task-oriented coping. Collectively, these findings suggest the importance of incorporating motivation into models of PTG. Clinical implications of these findings are also discussed.

The effects of female “Thin Ideal” media on men’s appearance schema, cognitive performance, and self-evaluations: A self-determination theory approach

Research has primarily focused on the consequences of the female thin ideal on women and has largely ignored the effects on men. Two studies were designed to investigate the effects of a female thin ideal video on cognitive (Study 1: appearance schema, Study 2: visual-spatial processing) and self-evaluative measures in male viewers. Results revealed that the female thin ideal predicted mens increased appearance schema activation and poorer cognitive performance on a visual-spatial task. Constructs from self-determination theory (i.e., global autonomous and controlled motivation) were included to help explain for whom the video effects might be strongest or weakest. Findings demonstrated that a global autonomous motivation orientation played a protective role against the effects of the female thin ideal. Given that autonomous motivation was a significant moderator, SDT is an area worth exploring further to determine whether motivational strategies can benefit men who are susceptible to media body ideals.

Fostering transformational leadership among young adults: a basic psychological needs approach

Abstract Scholars have noted the constructive effects of transformational leadership on groups and organisations. Key predictors of transformational leadership include aspects of personality, self-concept, as well as social context. The purpose of this research was to support and extend past work by exploring the links between a supportive social context, leadership traits, self-efficacy and transformational leadership on a sample of university students (Study 1, n = 397) and testing the replicability of the findings (Study 2, n = 392) while controlling for intelligence. Results from both studies supported the hypothesis that the experience of basic psychological need satisfaction plays a moderating role in the relation between a leader’s personality, self-efficacy and transformational leadership. Discussion emphasises keys findings and highlights implications for theory, research and practice.

The Protective Role of Autonomous Motivation Against the Effects of the “Muscular Ideal” on Men’s Self-Objectification, Appearance Schema Activation, and Cognitive Performance

ABSTRACT The objective of this 3-study research program was to identify and understand whether self-objectification (i.e., mediator) and motivation orientation (i.e., autonomous versus controlled; moderators) influenced men’s cognitive functioning following exposure to advertisements portraying the male muscular ideal. Overall, we aimed to (a) test an original moderated mediation model to further understand the complexities of men’s body image outcomes and (b) assess the moderating roles of autonomous and controlled motivation to understand its potential relationship with men’s body image. Using objectification theory and self-determination theory as frameworks to situate our models, we explored whether the muscular ideal, compared to the neutral video group, negatively affected men’s cognitive functioning using 3 different cognitive tasks intended to measure appearance schema activation (Study 1), visual-spatial processing (Study 2), and processing proficiency (Study 3). Results showed that the muscular ideal induced a state of self-objectification among men, which in turn, mediated viewer’s levels of appearance schema activation. Findings also revealed that autonomous motivation moderated the effects. High levels of autonomous motivation played a protective role on viewer’s cognitive performance on all three mental tasks, whereas controlled motivation did not predict any relationships. Implications and future directions are discussed.