BLUF
Chronic approval seeking can undermine motivation by replacing internal values with dependence on external validation. Rebuilding autonomy through values-based decisions and small actions, taken without seeking approval, helps restore intrinsic motivation and sustained engagement.Learning Outcomes
- Explain how chronic external validation seeking affects motivation, including the concepts of externalised regulation, autonomy, and self-determination theory.
- Differentiate between values-driven motivation and approval-dependent motivation, and assess how each influences engagement, decision-making, and long-term performance.
