---
id: "prereq-self-determination-theory"
type: "prereq"
source_timestamps: ["§ Psychological Impact"]
tags: ["psychology", "theory"]
related: ["concept-psychological-needs-triad", "framework-aware"]
reason: "Provides the foundational psychological framework explaining why workers resist or embrace AI."
sources: ["adoption"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-adoption"
originDay: 9
articleStem: "hbr-sig-52-genai-threatening-to-workers"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/03/why-gen-ai-feels-so-threatening-to-workers"
sourceTitle: "Why Gen AI Feels So Threatening to Workers"
---
# Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

**Self-Determination Theory (SDT)** — Deci & Ryan's theory that human motivation and well-being are driven by three innate needs: **competence, autonomy, and relatedness**. The article's entire premise rests on this framework; understanding it is essential to grasping why workers react *emotionally* (not just cognitively) to technological change.

**Why it's a prerequisite:** The [[concept-psychological-needs-triad]] is a direct application of SDT to Gen AI adoption, and the [[framework-aware]] framework is designed to keep all three SDT needs satisfied.

**Enrichment note:** SDT is a well-established framework, so the theoretical grounding is solid. Adjacent models a domain expert would contrast it with include the **Job Characteristics Model** (Hackman & Oldham — skill variety, task identity, significance, autonomy, feedback) and the **Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)** (perceived usefulness and ease of use); TAM is more cognitive/utility-focused, SDT more needs-focused.