Motivation and emotion/Book/2023/Novelty-variety as a psychological need

Overview


Novelty is considered to be the cognitive process used to identify a stimulus previously unknown, and new (Siddique, 2017). Novelty has been found to reinforce learning and promote intrinsic motivation (Siddique, 2017). Variety, on the other hand, refers to the quality or state of being diverse and varied (Wentworth & Witryol, 2012).

These two concepts are distinct but also intertwined. Variety is essential for a novel experience, however, not all variety is necessarily novel. That is, a novel experience will vary with respect to previous experiences, but an experience can vary from another prior experience without having to be novel (Gonzalez-Cutre, 2016). The word ‘novelty-variety’ is often used together in order to refer to an experience that is new and different as well as diverse.

Novelty-variety must be explored in further depth to make a considerable claim for a potential fourth candidate to the pre-existing three self-determination theory variables namely autonomy, relatedness and competence.

Current state of the literature
Before exploring novelty-variety and its classification as a basic psychological need, it is important to determine what basic psychological needs are. Ryan and Deci’s (2000) self-determination theory refers to three basic psychological needs all human beings require for optimal human functioning (Gonzalez-Cutre, 2016). These three needs are autonomy, competence and relatedness. According to Ryan and Desi (2000), these needs are innate and therefore, are not learned or developed behaviour, and they are all required for an individual’s growth, integrity and well-being (Gonzalez-Cutre, 2016). An extensive amount of research has been conducted to show that these three psychological needs strongly promote wellbeing of individuals across cultures, satisfy optimal life functions and positive growth. According to Baumeister and Leary (1995) and Ryan and Deci (2017), the six criteria that a need must meet in order to be a basic psychological need are as follows:


 * Have strong association with psychological integrity, health and wellbeing with its frustration negatively associated with same and poor functioning;
 * Have explicit specification of experiences and behaviours that lead to wellbeing;
 * Be essential to the interpretation of the current empirical phenomena;
 * Be a ‘growth need’ that works in interaction with the other three basic psychological needs as opposed to only when the other basic needs are thwarted;
 * Be the precursor of the increase of intrinsic motivation and organismic integration; and
 * Operate universally for all people regardless of their age, culture and more.

Self-determination theory consistently highlights the importance of novelty and unique challenges in increasing intrinsic motivation. However, earlier research prioritises autonomy and competence as the main drivers of intrinsic motivation and novelty-variety was often a factor discussed in relation to autonomy and competence. The current state of the literature shows that novelty-variety, as a basic psychological need, is a newly emerging area of research. Recent findings suggest that novelty-variety must be proposed as a separate construct that promotes intrinsic motivation. Accordingly, in addition to the three psychological needs as explored in the self-determination theory, novelty-variety should be regarded as another psychological need that is necessary and important for human growth and satisfaction (Gonzalez-Cutre, 2016).

 Alex is a 23 year old chemistry student with a unique motivation style. Traditional study methods bore them, but they thrive on challenge. To fuel engagement, Alex designs intricate study games, solving meta problems that relate to their study materials. The novelty of this approach not only sparks their curiosity but also drives them to delve deeper into their studies.

Novelty-variety: A case for acknowledgment
The need for novelty-variety is found to be related to adaptive social outcomes as when people experience novelty-variety, there is an increase in their intrinsic motivation and relatedness (Gonzalez-Cutre, 2016). Research with respect to intrinsic motivation shows that there are four different factors that support an individual’s intrinsic motivation and overall wellbeing: interest, curiosity, sensation seeking and perceived variety (Gonzalez-Cutre, 2016). Interest, as found by Silvia (2008) suggests that intrinsic motivation is subject to an individual’s assessment of the novelty-complexity of an experience and the individual’s assessment of the comprehensibility of the experience, curiosity refers to an individual’s predisposition to recognise and seek new experiences, sensation seeking, as developed by Zuckerman (1979) refers to the need for novel and varied and complex sensation and experiences and perceived variety establishes that varied and unexpected behaviour continuously promotes individuals’ wellbeing (Gonzalez-Cutre, 2016). In accordance with the above studies intrinsic motivation, which self-determination theory is larged based on, makes continuous reference to novelty and variety as a necessary and prominent construct of intrinsic motivation. Therefore, it is inevitable that novelty-variety is continuously proposed as a separate basic psychological need.

For novelty-variety to be acknowledged as a basic psychological need, it must adhere to the framework laid out in the basic needs theory posited by Baumeister and Leary (1995) and Ryan and Deci (2017). Various research and findings suggest that novelty-variety is able to meet the six criteria as follows, supporting the argument that novelty-variety should be considered a basic psychological need.



Association with wellbeing and frustration negatively associated with poor functioning
It is considered that novelty-variety exhibits similar properties to the other three basic psychological needs and is deemed necessary for life satisfaction (Bhageri, 2019) and when absent, thwarts positive wellbeing. (Sheldon, 2001)

Novelty-variety has repeatedly shown in studies to improve and influence life satisfaction. Gonzalez-Cutre et al. (2020) highlights a benefit to novelty-variety in the physical education context whereby students have claimed to experience higher levels of intrinsic motivation as a product of slight increase in variance of physical activity, therefore, supports the satisfaction of the first criteria of a basic psychological need.

Additionally, novelty-variety is interrelated with positive social outcomes whereby the experience of a novel activity is sought to be shared with another providing intrinsic motivation and relatedness complementing the already determined psychological needs in the self-determination theory. Hence, the satisfaction of novelty needs will satisfy the conditions for psychological integrity providing positive wellbeing (Gozalez-Cutre, 2016). In a learning perspective, with English learning Japanese students, the frustration of the variables within the self-determination theory as well as novelty-variety caused negative effects on wellbeing which further suggests that the absence of novelty-variety negatively influences people’s wellbeing, which, again supports the first criterion of a basic psychological need.

Therefore, the satisfaction of novelty-variety not only aids the other three basic psychological needs in promoting a positive overall wellbeing and optimal functioning, the frustration of novelty-variety also plays a strong role in adversely affecting the individual causing maladaptive life functions.

Explicit specification of experiences and behaviours
According to Ryan and Deci (2017), it is important that definitions of novelty-variety must explicitly specify types of activities that will lead to well-being. It can be found in studies of novelty-variety that researchers do specifically mention types of activities and actions that lead to well-being.

For example, in investigating the first criterion, González-Cutre et al. (2016) made specific theoretical descriptions of experiences and behaviors with respect to well-being that indicate the need for novelty-variety. With the first criterion found to be met by González-Cutre et al, these descriptions address the second criterion required.

Essential to the interpretation of the current empirical phenomena
Ryan and Deci (2017) requires all basic psychological needs to be a consistent mediator of social and personal factors and individuals’ motivations and psychosocial functioning.

Accordingly, González-Cutre et al. (2016) hypothesised that motivation would mediate effects of novelty on outcomes and therefore, satisfy the third criterion. In finding a positive correlation between the satisfaction of novelty-variety and motivation and well-being, González-Cutre et al. were also able to demonstrate and support the role of motivation as a mediator between the relationship of novelty need satisfaction and outcomes, which addresses the third criterion.

Interaction with the other three basic psychological needs
Novelty-variety must be in synergy with the other three basic needs, rather than a need that only operates when the other basic needs are thwarted, frustrated or threatened (Fernandez - Espinola et al., 2020). That is, novelty-variety must not be a substitute for one of the three basic needs. Studies show that the need for novelty-variety, along with the three existing basic psychological needs lead to motivation. González-Cutre et al. (2020) found that autonomous motivation was positively predicted by the satisfaction of the four needs, supporting the fourth criterion that the need for novelty works in synergy with the other basic psychological needs. Research provides that novelty-variety is a growth need rather than a deficit need.

Precursor of the increase of intrinsic motivation
Ryan and Deci (2017) requires novelty-variety to be a precursor of growth, rather than an outcome of the natural, inherent growth process of intrinsic motivation. González-Cutre and Sicilia (2019) investigated the satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs and novelty in predicting adaptive outcomes directly and indirectly through intrinsic motivation. All 4 needs were positively correlated to intrinsic motivation, however, surprisingly, novelty-variety needs proved to be the best predictor of intrinsic motivation with respect to learning and understanding. This finding shows that novelty-variety is a precursor of intrinsic motivation. Therefore, the need for novelty-variety appears to have a similar function to the existing three needs and is a precursor of the inherent growth process of intrinsic motivation, satisfying the fifth criterion.

Universal operation
Lastly, novelty-variety must operate universally regardless of sociocultural contexts. Study conducted by Fernandez-Espinola et al. (2020) found that the effects of satisfying novelty-variety did not depend on the age of the participants or novelty-seeking preferences.

In further support, research to date has not found any gender differences in the effects of novelty–variety on various outcomes such as everyday happiness and life satisfaction (Sheldon et al. 2012). Research conducted in countries such as Spain, Germany and Canada strongly indicate that the effects of novelty–variety may surpass cultural boundaries (Bhageri, 2019).

Research to date supports novelty-variety in meeting Ryan and Deci’s (2017) sixth criterion.

Quiz yourself {Who is considered as one of the earliest contributors of motivational psychology} + William James - Martin Seligman - Jay Shetty - B. F. Skinner

{Free will was the first grand theory of motivational study. True or False} + True - False

Evolutionary and physiological perspective
Bhageri and Milyavskaya (2019) suggests that novelty-variety is important for human survival. The innate desire to explore new and wide variety of resources has evolutionary benefits and those with a greater tendency towards novelty-variety are more likely to be associated with greater learning and intelligence. This positively impacts human survival as these individuals are more likely to find better sources of food and mates which, in turn, leads to better nutrition and chances of reproduction.

Research on dopamine suggests that an encounter with a novel stimuli stimulates the hippocampus which releases dopamine. Dopamine is the reward that an individual will continuously seek. Neurobiological studies also suggest that novelty-variety seeking behaviour is largely associated with individuals’ neurotransmitter activities in the brain, specifically the release of dopamine (Li, 2020).

Benefits to overall well-being
Novelty-variety has many implications for several positive outcomes in performance, life satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, relationship satisfaction and quality. Novelty-variety is linked with greater cognitive flexibility, creativity and to experiencing positive emotions in many areas of life.

Studies conducted by Sheldon & Lyubomirsky (2012) suggests that novelty variety is positively associated with well-being.(17,18,19,20) as variety, unexpectedness and surprise in everyday life promotes an increase in wellbeing. Research conducted by Li et al. (2020) suggests that exposure to novelty-variety can decrease one’s stress, anxiety and depression (22).

Food for thought:
 * What factors affect an individuals self-motivation?
 * Consider the psychosocial model and it's benefits to aid motivation.
 * How does one maintain an optimal level of motivation under difficult circumstances such as academics, gym workouts, daily work tasks, etc?

Conclusion
Novelty and variety factors have been studied extensively as properties of physical and mental wellbeing in wider contexts with novelty-variety being an emerging topic of research. As such, research in this area lacks a great depth of empirical and theoretical evidence and there are various limitations to the above findings.

Some of the limitations relate to the need for further research to completely satisfy all six criteria for basic psychological needs.

To entirely satisfy the third criterion for the basic psychological need within the self-determination theory, further research is required to determine whether satisfaction and frustration of novelty-variety mediates relation between social factors, motivation and outcomes.

To entirely satisfy the sixth inclusion criterion within the self-determination theory, further research is required by doing similar research with a sample of non-western participants as the current findings were determined by a group of western individuals. A sample of people of many different cultures is necessary to determine whether novelty-criteria is a universal psychological need and to promote generalisability and transcend all cultural boundaries.