Abstract
According to self-determination theory (SDT), competence is among the three basic psychological needs essential for one’s well-being and optimal functioning, and the frustration of these needs is theoretically predicted to induce a restorative response. While previous studies have explored the restoration process of autonomy and relatedness, empirical evidence for such a process is still lacking for competence. In order to explore this process and to examine the effect of prior competence frustration on one’s motivation to win in a subsequent competence-supportive task, we adopted a between-group experimental design and manipulated one’s competence frustration through task difficulty in an electrophysiological study. Participants in both groups were instructed to work on the time-estimation task and the stop-watch task in two successive sessions respectively. Participants in the experimental group were asked to complete a highly difficult task in the first session and a task of medium difficulty in the second session, while those in the control group were instructed to work on tasks of medium difficulty in both sessions. In the second session, an enlarged feedback-related negativity (FRN) loss-win difference wave (d-FRN) was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group, indicating that the competence-frustrated participants have an enhanced motivation to win in a subsequent competence-supportive task. Thus, results of the present study provided original neural evidence for the restoration process of frustrated competence, which provided important guidelines for the managerial practice.
Highlights
In our daily life, we frequently observe the phenomenon that, instead of being devastated, lots of people will seek an opportunity to prove themselves after a setback
The level of competence frustration was significantly different between the control group and the experimental group (Mexperimental = 4.625 (SD = 0.944), Mcontrol = 3.052 (SD = 1.249); t(46)= −4.922, p < 0.001, cohen’d = 1.42), which confirmed that our manipulation was successful
In a pioneering field study conducted in an educational setting, we found that for students who had been competence-frustrated to a great extent in a preceding course, a restoration process would be activated if the current course can help restore their competence, as they showed enhanced intrinsic motivation in the current course (Fang et al, 2017)
Summary
We frequently observe the phenomenon that, instead of being devastated, lots of people will seek an opportunity to prove themselves after a setback. People who failed an interview may regain confidence and happiness by managing to succeed in other domains (i.e., to win a tennis match). Their behaviors may seem irrational at first glance. Motivating Effect of Competence Frustration match itself would not help them change the interview result. This act helps people to restore their undermined perceived competence. This vivid scenario shows that a need restoration process of competence may exist and that individuals may actively enforce self-regulation to fulfill their basic psychological needs
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