CET and Self-Efficacy



     Vivienne shows a large degree of relatedness, particularly as a youth.  She and her best friends have always been close.  They would often sneak out of the house at night and meet deep in the woods where they would build fires and have mock ceremonies, bringing them all closer together (giving themselves the titular name: the Ya-Ya Sisterhood).  Their bond is one that persists well into old age.  Their friendship drives many of their actions as they seek support, approval, and companionship throughout their lives, such as supporting one another as they go through divorces, AA, and marital issues.
      One particularly comical instance of intrinsic motivation that (potentially) arises from relatedness comes from a hot summer night when Vivi and her friends were young women in their 20s.  As they sat and pooled in sweat from the excruciating heat, they decided to go for a car ride late at night (a convertible with the top off).  The women unbutton their pajama tops to feel the air against their skin, but Vivi decides to go one step further:  she takes off her bra.  She does this of her own volition, showing a sense of autonomy.  Her thoughts are further explained in the book.  She did not remove her bra to cool off further (her open shirt and the high speed of the car was enough).  She did it out of a sudden urge to do something decisive and exciting, which thrilled her with a sense of freedom. 
    

Comments

  1. Jeannine TurnerSeptember 26, 2018 at 5:45 AM

    Interesting..... I need to read the book; I have really old friendships like this. You did a nice job of explaining how relationships and autonomy impact motivation. It would have been nice if you also articulated how competence was related. Even better would be if you could find an example in which all three aspect played into your character's motivation. Your examples are a bit disconnected.

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