Autonomy: Meaning, Psychology, & ResearchBy Charlie Huntington, M.A., Ph.D.
Autonomy is the capacity to influence our environments in order to meet a goal, whether that is regulating one’s mood, earning a promotion, or making a new friend.
By the time a child is two years old, and certainly by the time they are approaching that third birthday, they are usually putting those verbal skills to quite a lot of use. Not for nothing is this developmental stage often called the “terrible twos” – kids this age are truly enjoying the ability to tell the world what they want and how they think things should be.
From this developmental point onward, in fact, people are constantly trying to exert control or influence over their environments to achieve their goals. They are exercising their abilities to assert autonomy – to freely and intentionally direct the course of their lives. The nature of autonomy has fascinated philosophers and psychologists for many years, so let’s see what the scientific literature has to say about the topic. Before reading on, if you're a therapist, coach, or wellness entrepreneur, be sure to grab our free Wellness Business Growth eBook to get expert tips and free resources that will help you grow your business exponentially.
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