Self-determination Theory and Social Work Values

Self-determination theory (SDT) is an evidence-based approach to programs promoting behavioral change. Social work researchers are increasingly incorporating SDT into program planning and evaluation. Yet the theory itself, developed within the discipline of psychology, has not been fully evaluated for congruence with social work values and perspectives. We compare the core tenets of SDT to values found within the United States National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, and find that there is a significant overlap between SDT and social work values. Areas of congruence include autonomy, relatedness, and the importance of human relationships. There are some concepts within SDT that need special consideration when used by social workers, in particular competence and motivation. These constructs have been used to support narratives of individual responsibility in the face of problems caused by societal structures. Further, the theory's traditional framing of context has not explicitly highlighted social justice. SDT has been shown to be an effective strategy in supporting behavioral change. Social workers must be careful to include structural factors such as poverty and discrimination when applying SDT to planning and evaluating social work programs. With these considerations, we suggest that SDT can be a powerful tool for planning and evaluation of social interventions.