The Role of Autonomy Support in the Development of Passion

This chapter focuses on the crucial role that autonomy-supportive social environments play in the development of passion toward work. It provides an overview of self-determination theory and how basic psychological needs can be fulfilled or thwarted by one’s working environment. The importance of autonomy-supportive environments, and what they entail, in the initial and ongoing development of passion are highlighted, with research, both in the work and nonwork domains, in support. Finally, practical applications of this relationship between autonomy-supportive work environments and the development of a more intense and healthier form of passion toward work are also discussed, mainly in terms of leaders’ training.