> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.dojoactors.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Self-Determined Actor (Part 1) - URL: https://www.dojoactors.com/self-determined-1/ - Published: 2025-01-10T07:10:13.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-21T02:36:27.000Z - Author: Tahlia Norrish ****Article precap:** 1️⃣ [Theory](#the-theory-in-theory) 2️⃣ [Practice](#the-theory-in-practice) 3️⃣ [TL;DR summary](#tldr) 4️⃣ [References](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) 5️⃣ [Recommended citation](#cite-us) Confession: we've had this article in draft mode for 18 months 🤦 You know those important but overwhelming tasks / projects you procrastinate completing under the guise of "perfecting"? This is one of those. Fortunately, we remembered that "perfect" doesn't exist, and so published instead. Sharing something good enough > not sharing something "perfect". So, welcome to a long-overdue crash course in basic psychological needs theory. This will be kept 101 level – we'll do a deeper dive in [a future article](https://www.dojoactors.com/self-determined-2/) – nevertheless, anecdotal evidence from our coaching practices tells us that even an intro-level understanding of this theory can have an outsized effect on the empowerment felt by actors. Knowledge is, after all, potential power.[\[1\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) ****Backed by science; built for the stage and screen.** 👊 ****Actors:** Get evidence-informed insights and strategies to support your performance and well-being. [Join the Dojo e-newsletter tribe](https://www.dojoactors.com/#/portal/signup) and make thriving your reality. 🧭 ****Drama schools & Production companies:** Bring pioneering, research-backed coaching into your classroom or rehearsal room. [Let's talk](mailto:dojoactors@gmail.com) about supporting your actors to perform at their peak – and stay well in the process. ## **The theory in theory** Basic psychological needs theory is one of six mini-theories within the macro self-determination theory.[\[2\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) If we were to boil this macro theory down to its TL;DR form, we'd summarise that it provides a comprehensive model for understanding human motivation. In truth, self-determination theory contains *a lot* – the literature can be pretty dense at times – but in this discussion, we'll narrow our focus to just the mini-theory of basic psychological needs. Research across work, education, and life contexts reveals that our sense of motivation and well-being can be compromised if and when our basic psychological needs aren't met.[\[3\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) In fact, one study describes basic psychological needs as the "essential nutrients for optimal human functioning".[\[4\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) What are these basic psychological needs, you ask? Excellent question. There are three: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. And notably, research seems to suggest these three needs hold across cultures.[\[5\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) When our needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are met, we feel "full willingness and volition", "effective and capable", and experience "intimacy and genuine connection with others".[\[6\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) In contrast, when our needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness *aren't* met, we experience feeling "controlled through externally enforced or self-imposed pressures", "failure and doubts about one's efficacy", and "relational exclusion and loneliness".[\[7\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) The reason we care about bringing this into the conversation is, unfortunately, neither the entertainment industry nor acting training is structured to adequately address these needs.[\[8\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) Although that's obviously not awesome, and we'll continue to do our bit to massage both these domains toward a more psychologically supportive posture, it can be empowering to realise that this isn't an us problem but a systemic one. We aren't failing as actors; the system is failing us. ## **The theory in practice** Long-time Dojo friends will know the sentence that's coming. Feel free to say it with us (or eye roll, whatever your vibe): we must empower ourselves until our industry and training come to empower us. Before we unleash you onto our list of tactical-practical suggestions, we should highlight that very little research has been conducted into enhancing autonomy, competence, and relatedness with actor populations. As a result, the suggestions below have been borrowed from other fields and actor-fied within the Dojo, but *without* empirical testing (yet). Transparency and accuracy matter, and we want to walk that talk. That said, this is our current collection of suggestions with anecdotal efficacy. [Let us know](https://www.dojoactors.com/contact/) if you have / discover others. We'd love to build a basic psychological needs-enhancing Pokédex with y'all 👊 **To enhance autonomy**: - Craft a [personal definition of "success"](https://www.dojoactors.com/define-success/). - Set [your own goals](https://www.dojoactors.com/goal-setting-time/). - Develop an individualised [Training Menu](https://www.dojoactors.com/course-schedule-success/). **To enhance competence**: - [Get your "results" elsewhere](https://www.dojoactors.com/get-results-elsewhere/). - Specify [process and performance goals](https://www.dojoactors.com/always-win/). - Double down on well-being metrics (e.g., [sleep](https://www.dojoactors.com/sleep/), [nutrition](https://www.dojoactors.com/nutrition/), and [movement](https://www.dojoactors.com/exercise/)). **To enhance relatedness**: - Build and prioritise time with [your tribe](https://www.dojoactors.com/social-circle/). - Remember you're a [spiritual being having an actor's experience](https://www.dojoactors.com/spiritual-beings/). - Find [your querencia](https://www.dojoactors.com/querencia/). ![Good Place "Ya basic!" GIF](https://media.tenor.com/OoY12pLUjTgAAAAC/basic-thegoodplace.gif) As mentioned, we'll return for a deeper dive into self-determination theory in [a future article](https://www.dojoactors.com/self-determined-2/), but we wanted to at least get the ball rolling after 18 months of procrastination 😅 In the meantime, if basic psychological needs are considered the "essential nutrients for optimal human functioning", this may be one instance we need to embrace being #basic. ## TL;DR? No worries. Here are the three key takeaways: - Motivation is heavily influenced by the extent to which our basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) are met. - In general, neither actor training nor the acting industry is set up to adequately meet these needs for us. - If we want to *thrive* – not just *survive* – as actors, we need to take responsibility for fostering more autonomy, competence, and relatedness in our lives. --- ****Love what you're reading?** [****Help us keep it flowing**](https://www.dojoactors.com/#/portal/support)****.** Donations support the research, writing, and free sharing of evidence-informed tools for actor performance and well-being. Every dollar fuels our mission to make thriving a reality for actors everywhere 🔥 --- ### ‌**Citations** \[1\] [https://amzn.to/4gKe2kz](https://amzn.to/4gKe2kz?ref=dojoactors.com) \[2\] [https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104\_01](https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104%5F01?ref=dojoactors.com) \[3\] [https://doi.org/10.1037/10363-008](https://doi.org/10.1037/10363-008?ref=dojoactors.com) \[4\] \[5\] \[6\] \[7\] [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-014-9450-1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-014-9450-1?ref=dojoactors.com) \[8\] [https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12221](https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12221?ref=dojoactors.com) --- ### **Cite us!** IG: @theactorsdojo APA 7: Norrish, T. (2025, January 10). *The self-determined actor (Part 1)*. The Actor’s Dojo.