CET is a theory that focuses on two elements; an individuals' intrinsic motivation and elements of environmental supports needed for individuals' intrinsic motivation. In order for one to gain intrinsic motivation from environmental supports, they need to have the three basic human needs; competence, autonomy, and relatedness.
In The Handmaid's Tale, June, our main character, has quite the intrinsic motivation for all of her daring actions. Again, June has been captured and made to participate in unspeakable handmaid activities; ritualistic rapings, group murdering, pregnancy, and following every order given to her by everyone- except other handmaids and Martha's (housemaid's). As the viewer, we get the privilege of hearing her inner thoughts on almost everything happening to her and going on around her. June's ultimate goals throughout the first 2 1/2 seasons is to not only escape Gilead, but escape with her daughter- which turns out to cause her more obstacles along her journey. In the last half of the 3rd season, June meticulously persuades the wife of the house she is living in to visit a school that has June's daughter. Seeing how many little girls have been stripped of their mothers, June decides to break the girls out of Gilead- with help from the Martha's and an airplane pilot who is against the government.
As previously mentioned, in order for one to gain intrinsic motivation from environmental supports, they need to have the three basic human needs; competence, autonomy, and relatedness. In June's case, she feels she has the competence to manipulate the man and wife that own her; she does this by making deals with them. For instance, telling the Canadian government that she enjoys being a handmaid for Fred and Serena (the man and wife that own her), so they will let her see her daughter (this happened twice). In Gilead, there are few who have autonomy, let alone June. However, June finds little ways to maneuver throughout the house when she needs fresh air a night or when she wants to talk to the driver of the household (whom she later has a secret relationship with). As far as relatedness, June quickly develops friendships with the other handmaids and Martha's, and carries out undercover missions to get people out of Gilead. As a whole, these women become the strongest working force against Gilead, due to June's sense of self-efficacy with getting women out of Gilead- including her own newborn daughter and a group of school-aged girls.
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