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Self-determination theorist and motivation researcher studying how to cultivate autonomous motivation, effective goal pursuit, and psychological well-being across the lifespan.
Dr. Richard Koestner is a Professor of Psychology at McGill University and the director of the McGill Human Motivation Lab. His research focuses on human motivation, self-regulation, and goal pursuit — particularly on how to help people move from external pressures and introjected obligations toward genuine, autonomous motivation that is self-sustaining and satisfying. He is a leading contributor to Self-Determination Theory, one of the most empirically supported frameworks in motivational psychology.
Dr. Koestner's work has practical implications for parenting, education, healthcare, and psychotherapy — anywhere that motivation and behavior change are central concerns. He has published more than 150 articles and chapters, collaborating with researchers around the world on questions about identity, internalization, and the conditions that support lasting positive change. His longitudinal research on goal pursuit has been especially influential, showing how the qualities of goals — not just their content — determine whether they lead to satisfaction and success.
In part 2 with Dr. Richard Koestner, we discuss the concept of hyper-parenting, the pressures parents face regarding their children's achievements, and the importance of balancing autonomy and limit-s…
This week's guest is Dr. Richard Koestner, a professor of Psychology at McGill University where he has conducted research on human motivation for 25 years.Dr. Koestner discusses the importance of auto…
