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Autonomy In Social Psychology

309 Words2 Pages
Autonomy is a critical psychological need. It denotes the experience of volition and self-direction in thought, feeling, and action. People feel autonomous when their goals and behaviors are aligned with their innermost desires, interests, and ideas; when their actions are endorsed at the highest level of self-reflection (Legault, Ray, Hudgins, Pelosi, & Shannon, 2016). Thus, rather than feeling pressured, those who feel autonomous are motivated by personal values and interests. Instead of perceiving their self-worth as contingent upon social approval and meeting expectations, autonomously functioning individuals feel free to express who they really are (Legault et al., 2016). Relevantly, autonomy enhances confidence in taking on a broader
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