Synonyms
Definition
Competence is the psychological need to exert a meaningful effect on one’s environment. It refers to the innate propensity to develop skill and ability, and to experience effectance in action. Competence promotes the pursuit of challenging and deeply satisfying experiences and is a criterion for psychological growth and well-being.
Introduction
When people do not feel capable and effective, their motivation plummets and they suffer ill-being. Conversely, the experience of mastery leads to feelings of personal satisfaction, vitality, interest, and well-being (Deci and Ryan 2008). This fundamental connection between competence and human thriving suggests that it is a psychological prerequisite for growth and psychological health. Indeed, human beings have an inherent tendency to develop themselves. This means that they actively strive to become effective, to master their environments, and to hone their capacities...
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References
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Legault, L. (2017). The Need for Competence. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1123-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1123-1
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