Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which is arguably the best understanding science currently has for why some pursuits get our engines running while others leave us cold.8 SDT tells us that motivation, in the workplace or elsewhere, requires that you fulfill three basic psychological needs—factors described as the “nutriments” required to feel intri

At a broad level, he argued, humans’ intrinsic motivation seemed to entail three related but distinct drives: for novelty, for surprise, and for mastery.