The mediating role of self orientations on the relationship between psychological needs satisfaction and values
Creators: name: Majstorovic, Nebojsa
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2007
Subjects: subject: Psychology, Social.

description: Psychological needs are innate strivings that are theorized to relate to personal values, which are elaborate acquired cognitive structures. It seems plausible to infer that an intermediate process intervenes between these two end states. The main goal of the present thesis was to examine the possible mediating role of self-orientation in the relationship between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and the endorsement of intrinsic and extrinsic values. This project rests on manifold theoretical foundations. Psychological needs are conceptualized according to Self-Determination Theory (Deci &amp; Ryan, 1985a, 2002). Values are approached using Schwartz's Theory of Universal Values (1992, 1994). The theoretical underpinnings for self-orientation are provided by the taxonomy of self-systems proposed by Hodgins and Knee (2002). As postulated by many key authors in humanistic psychology (e.g., Maslow, 1970), it was hypothesized that a fundamental association between psychological need satisfaction and personal values would be observed. Self-orientation (integrated, ego-invested, or impersonal) was hypothesized to mediate this relationship. Specifically, psychological needs satisfaction was expected to display a high positive association with the integrated self, a modest negative association with the ego-invested self, and a high negative association with the impersonal self. The integrated self was expected to be positively associated with intrinsic values and unrelated to extrinsic values. Conversely, the ego-invested self was expected to be positively associated with extrinsic values and unrelated to intrinsic values. The impersonal self was expected be unrelated to both intrinsic and extrinsic values. The present project comprised three studies. Study 1 (N=333) consisted of a preliminary undertaking in which an instrument to measure self orientation was developed and successfully validated. The Ego Functioning Questionnaire presented a clean factorial structure, meaningful construct validity, and satisfactory internal properties (i.e., reliability, homogeneity, and representativeness). The hypothesized network of associations between the variables under study was tested using cross-sectional surveys and structural equation models in Studies 2 and 3. Results of Study 2 (N=300) provided clear support for all research hypotheses. Model fits were satisfactory. The fundamental association between need satisfaction and values was successfully documented. Moreover, self-orientation did indeed mediate this relationship. The pattern of associations between psychological need satisfaction, self orientation (integrated, ego-invested, and impersonal), and values (intrinsic and extrinsic) was exactly as anticipated. The goal of Study 3 was to provide a cross cultural validation of the results of Study 2, using a sample of participants from Serbia and Monte Negro (N=300). Structural equation models were generated and results from Studies 2 and 3 were compared using multigroup invariance testing. Model fits were adequate. As for the expected pattern of relationships between the variables under study, all results corroborated research hypotheses, with two minor exceptions. Specifically, when testing the fundamental relationship between needs satisfaction and values, a significant association was obtained for intrinsic, but not for extrinsic, values. Also, within the full structural equation model designed to test for the mediating effect of self orientation, a modest positive association between need satisfaction and ego-invested self was obtained, rather than a negative one. All other expected paths were in the anticipated direction. To summarize, interesting initial support was obtained for research hypotheses. Yet, future studies are necessary to further our understanding of the mediating role of self orientation in the relationship between psychological needs satisfaction and personal values.