The Interaction Between Global Task Motivation and the Motivational Function of Events on Self-Regulation: Is Sauce for The Goose, Sauce for The Gander?

An experiment was conducted to assess (1) the interaction between global task motivation and motivational aspects of the environment (level of controls and autonomy-support present in the environment) and (2) gender differences with regard to this interaction. Forty male and forty female participants with high and low levels of self-determination towards relaxation attempted to learn relaxation using biofeedback in an either controlling or autonomy-supportive environment. The results confirm the notion that global task motivation and intervention style interact. Further, this interaction is qualified by a gender effect. The resulting triple interaction suggests that a different pattern of relations between the motivational aspects of the environment and level of self-determination emerges for men and women.
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