Finns Cognitive Evaluation Theory

Finn does not stop. Nobody tells him to do any of these things he just does them. There is no reward or prize. He just wants to do what feels right to him. I guess you could say Princess Bubblegum is some sort of reward, but that’s not in most episodes. This type of motivation is what Reeves calls self-determination theory.  The idea is that people have three main psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When those needs are met, people start to act in genuine interest instead of pressure. They want to do things because they feel that it means something personally to them, not because they have to.

Finn shows that even if he doesn’t realize it, his autonomy stems from his deep appreciation for freedom. When Princess Bubblegum gives him missions, he listens, but also does whatever he wants. This is especially relevant later in the series when it’s revealed that bubblegum doesn’t have romantic feelings for him. Sometimes he even does the opposite of what she says just because it feels wrong to him. He needs to feel free, like his choices are his own. Reeve says that when people feel in control of their actions, their motivation will become stronger and more self-determined. I believe Finn defines that. 

Competence is another big piece of Finn‘s personality. Finn lives through action; most often, he’s messing up, and he’s not doing things correctly. The first time, he eventually learns a lesson throughout the episode that tells him how to do things correctly. This doesn’t get him down because he has friends around to help him out, and in the end, things work out. I believe that his feeling so capable makes him more effective and pushes him to take on new challenges, like Reeves says. As I keep saying, Finn is not the ideal warrior; he’s not the perfect adventurer; he’s just a kid learning to do things like any kid would. At heart, Finn just wants to be liked by his friends and enjoy the company that that brings. He wants relatedness because, as significant as freedom is, connection is just as important. His best friends, Jake, BMO, and sometimes Princess Bubblegum, give him a sense of belonging that he wouldn’t get otherwise. On his adventures, these are the people that are pushing him to be better, reminding him that there are other ways to accomplish a goal. Reeves explains that relatedness is about feeling understood and valued by others. 

In cognitive evaluation theory, external control can weaken intrinsic motivation, so when Bubblegum treats Finn like a soldier instead of a friend, he still does the job, but he changes it. It’s now a duty, not a quest. It’s not for fun. When he starts to question himself and rebel, Jake shakes him out of it. He gives him the space to fail and learn, but also picks him up and offers him other choices. Finn really does seem to light up whenever he is trusted to figure things out on his own. That’s whenever you can really realize that he is a kid and he just wants his big bro to trust him and hang out. 

Choosing this series was a very specific choice for me because as soon as we got assigned this motivation project. I knew that this followed a very driven character. He might’ve started out where he was fighting for fun because it makes him feel like a hero but later on, he turns into that hero; he’s not fighting for fun. He’s fighting for the kingdom of Ooo. Reeves mentions that overtime. Motivation can move from external to more self-integrated. I think that’s exactly what happens with Finn. This story is a great example of how self-determination theory works. His autonomy drives his courage. His competence drives his persistence, his relationships give it all meaning, and when those needs are supported, he’s unbeatable. When they’re blocked, he struggles, but he doesn’t lose himself because he has his friends to pick him up. He’s not kept going by glory or a reward because his actions matter; he’s becoming exactly who he’s always wanted to be.