Spiritual Elevation
Introjected Regulation
Motivation powered by guilt and ego.
Grounded in the research on self-determination theory (introjected regulation)
the gist
A type of motivation where you do things to dodge guilt, shame, or anxiety — or to protect your ego and chase approval. It feels internal, but it’s still run by pressure, not genuine want.
the science
From Self-Determination Theory (Edward Deci and Richard Ryan). On their motivation spectrum it sits between fully external (outside rewards and punishment) and fully internalized (doing it because it matters to you). It's a rule you've 'swallowed but not digested.'