ABC at school

The three psychological basic needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence form the essential ingredients for motivation and well-being at school. Autonomy refers to the freedom that teachers and students experience to shape their schoolwork and make choices. Belongingness is about feeling connected with colleagues, classmates, and the school. Competence refers to being able to achieve goals, feeling capable of successfully completing tasks or assignments, and continuing to develop oneself. 

Teachers and students whose ABC needs are met feel more energetic, come to school with greater enthusiasm, take initiative more easily, and achieve better results. In contrast, frustration of these needs can lead to “must-ivation” or even a lack of motivation, resulting in lower engagement and higher risk of dropout.