Identified regulation
Identified regulation is an autonomous form of motivation in which a person consciously accepts that an activity is valuable and important to them. The athlete acts not under pressure but because they understand and share the goal.
Definition
With identification the behaviour already feels like your own and makes sense: "this matters to me", "this takes me toward my goal". The activity may not be enjoyable, but the person values its outcome and recognises that it matters to them personally. This is a stable, mature form of motivation, close to intrinsic.
How it shows up in sport
The athlete does the dull conditioning work or the recovery routine conscientiously, because they understand what it does for their development. This kind of regulation protects against loss of motivation and helps you hold your course through inconsistent results. It is also critical during the long process of coming back from injury.
Related tests
Identified regulation is measured by the autonomous scales of sport motivation questionnaires in the tests section. High scores on it are a good predictor of steady engagement. The profile shows how far your motivation rests on your own values.
Exercises
Identification is strengthened by exercises that connect everyday tasks to the bigger goal, clarify personal values and set meaningful targets. It helps to answer the question "why does this really matter to me" regularly. The practices are in the exercises section.
Related terms and issues
Identified regulation sits on the self-determination continuum to the right of introjected regulation and shades into integrated regulation. Strengthening it directly protects against loss of motivation and athlete burnout.
FAQ
How is identified regulation different from intrinsic motivation?
With intrinsic motivation the activity is enjoyable in itself. With identified regulation it may be dull, but the person values its outcome and considers it important. Both are autonomous and stable, but they rest on different sources — enjoyment versus personal significance.
Related topics
See also
When you need a personal review
If the challenge recurs, affects results, or causes strong tension for the athlete, it is better to discuss it with a specialist. Sports Talk helps you find a psychologist and a format that fits the sport, age and upcoming calendar.