Foundational Tests of the Need-Support Model: A Framework for Bridging Regulatory Focus Theory and Self-Determination Theory

This article introduces the need-support model,which proposes that regulatory focus can affect subjective support for the needs proposed by self-determination theory (autonomy,competence,and relatedness),and support of these needs can affect subjective labeling of experiences as promotion-focused and prevention-focused. three studies tested these hypotheses (n = 2,114). study 1 found that people recall more need support in promotion-focused experiences than in prevention-focused experiences,and need support in their day yesterday (with no particular regulatory focus) fell in between. study 2 found that experiences of higher need support were more likely to be labeled as promotion-focused rather than prevention-focused,and that each need accounted for distinct variance in the labeling of experiences. study 3 varied regulatory focus within a performance task and found that participants in the promotion condition engaged in need-support inflation,whereas participants in the prevention condition engaged in need-support deflation. directions for future research are discussed. © 2017,© 2017 by the society for personality and social psychology,inc.