Understanding Basic Psychological Needs Across the Life Span: The Role of the Crucial Cs

Abstract:The Crucial Cs provide a straightforward and coherent framework that offers insights into one's own and others' behaviors and emotions, developmentally and across the life span. Deci and Ryan's empirically derived self-determination theory, with basic psychological need theory and intrinsic motivation at its core, provides indirect evidence of the validity of the Crucial Cs framework, which was devised by clinician-educators Bettner and Lew, drawing on the work of Adler and Dreikurs. It is argued that while self-determination theory evolved over 50 years, from vast numbers of studies, and the Crucial Cs from Adlerian theory and practice wisdom, each supports the validity of the other. The authors share their experiences of applying the Crucial Cs to promote understanding and healthy living, in research, and in teaching and supporting undergraduate practitioners, and postgraduate professionals.