Motivation Jiu Jitsu: Nonviolence from a Self Determination Theory Perspective

Nonviolence has two distinct subcategories, namely, principled, and pragmatic nonviolence. Principled nonviolence focuses on moral consciousness and pragmatic nonviolence focuses on political power. Scholars argue that principled nonviolence is moral jiu jitsu and pragmatic nonviolence is political jiu jitsu. This research builds a theoretical perspective on nonviolence using a case approach. It develops a framework for nonviolence from a self determination theory (SDT) perspective and introduces 'motivation jiu jitsu’. It presents nonviolence as a product of the extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, which is enabled by the fulfillment of basic psychological needs. The developed theoretical framework on the relationship of nonviolence and SDT is positioned within the broader peace and conflict studies theory, encounter theory.