When people have their basic psychological needs satisfied, their motivation will be autonomous.

When individuals have their basic psychological needs met, they are more likely to experience autonomous motivation, meaning their actions are self-endorsed and volitional, stemming from genuine interest or personal value, rather than external pressures or demands. This concept is central to Self-Determination Theory, which posits that fulfilling the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness leads to more self-determined forms of motivation.