A cultural perspective on employee motivation

Abstract

I propose to explore cultural variations in a motivational phenomenon that, in recent years, has garnered much theoretical and empirical attention from social and organizational psychologists: autonomy, or the individual’s inner endorsement of his or actions. A conceptual underpinning of empirical research on autonomy is the self-determination theory (see Ryan & Deci, 2000), which posits that the phenomenological experience of volition or self-regulation in one’s actions and behaviors yields positive emotions and a deep sense of well-being. However, research does not provide confirming evidence on whether autonomy-related positive outcomes found in western cultures, are also found in other cultures that emphasize a more relational nature of the self. For example, does one predict similar positive outcomes in cultures where interpersonal obligations, duties, and choices made by others take precedence over self-determined action?