Autonomy

Autonomy

self-ruling and self-governing

Opposite of Autonomy

heteronomy

Similar Words to Autonomy

independence, self-reliance, self-sufficiency

One Important “Developmental Task” in Adolescence

becoming self-sufficient

Autonomy I

being independent

• extent to which one behaves, decides and think without relying on other views

Autonomy II

being independent

extent to which one engages willingly in an acitivty because it is

• doing what you truly want

• doing what you feel is important

• doing what you think is right

Autonomy Similar To

• negative freedom from external constraints, rules

• positive freedoms to do things: competence, ability, motivation

Autonomy As

gaining more independence/freedom to choose

Autonomy Increases In

• adolescent years

• needs to increase gradually

Too Much Independence Too Early

put teenagers at risk

Autonomy Can Be At Odds With

rules and obligations

Autonomy As Self-Motivation

basic need in Self Determination Theory

• independent of age

• is never too much

• no antagonism with relatedness and rule acceptance

Autonomy Supportive Parenting

choice, self-initiative, low pressure, explanation, acknowledgment of negative feelings

3 Domains of Social Life

1. moral rules: not hitting, stealing, harming

2. conventional rules: etiquette, dress codes, traffic rules

3. personal discretion: food preferences, music, outfit, friends

Adolescents Demand More Independence For

personal issues or multifaced issues involving the personal domain

• “it’s my choice”

• “it’s not my parents business”

• “I should be able to decide”

Parents Grant Independence

reluctantly insisting on prudential or conventional concerns

• “I am in charge”

• “I am responsible”

• "This is the way we do it in our family”

Moral Issues

• stealing money from parents

• hitting siblings

• lying to parents

• breaking a promise to parents

Conventional Issues

• not doing assigned chores

• talking back to parents

• cursing

Prudential Issues

• smoking

• drinking alcohol

• doing drugs

• having sex

Personal Issues

• sleeping late on weekends

• choosing clothing and hairstyles

Multifaced Issues

• not cleaning bedroom

• when to start dating

• staying out late

Jean Piaget’s 2 Levels of Rule Understanding

1. moral heteronomy (5 to 9)

2. moral autonomy (9 up)

Lawrence Kohlbergs: Stage Model of Moral Judgement

1. preconventional (stages 1-2)

2. conventional (stages 3-4)

3. postconventional (stages 5-6)

Jean Piaget

• biologist, psychologist, philosopher

• mostly known for theory on cogntive development

• began career with book on children’s mortality (the moral judgement of the child)

Shift From Heteronomy to Autonomy Can Be Observed For

• rule understanding

• moral responsibility

• fairness

Heteronomy

• rules are respected because they are handed down from adults

• rules are understood as absolutes (sacred and unchangeable)

• rules are understood literally (lying = not telling truth)

• beliefs in objective responsibility

Autonomy

• rules arise from mutual consent

• rules are understood as changeable and flexible

• rules are understood according to their spirit

• beliefs in subjective responsibility

Kohlberg Used

complex moral dilemma desinged to elicty the highest level of individuals moral reasoning

Stages of Moral Judgement

systemically change over the course of development

Preconventional Level

perspective of the concrete individual

• stage 1 and 2

Stage 1

physical consequences, punishment

Stage 2

own intrests

Conventional Level

member of society perspective

• stage 3 and 4

Stage 3

social expectations that define a good-person

Stage 4

maintaining social order by obeying the law and doing one’s duty

Postconvenional Level

prior to society perspective

• stage 5 and 6

Stage 5

standards that have been argreed upon by whole society

Stage 6

principles that all humanity should follow

Heinz Dilemma - Heinz Should Steal the Drug Because

• stage 1: if you let someone die they might put you in jail

• stage 2: because he needs his wife

• stage 3: as her husband he should take care for her

• stage 4: people must have some sense of responsibility for others

• stage 5: the right to life supersedes the right to property

Heinz Dilemma - Heniz Should NOT Steal the Drug Because

• stage 1: he would be aressted and put in prison

• stage 2: he would be taking too great risk

• stage 3: he won’t leave a bad impression in the community

• stage 4: there will be chaos if citizens feel they can break the law any time they disagree

• stage 5: the law is essential to protect basic human rights against violation by others

Internal Motivation

how individuals see themselves

External Motivation

how individuals want others to see them

SDT - 3 Basic Psychological Needs

if met motivation becomes more instrinsic

SDT Definition of Ned

essential for growth, integrity and wellness

SDT Needs

• autonomy

• competence

• relatedness

Autonomy

having a choice, being able to be yourself

Competence

feeling effective at one’s activities

Relatedness

feeling conected to others, sense of belonging

Gaining Autonomy in Parent-Child Relationship

• older adolescents no longer rush to parents when upset, worried or needing help 

• adolescents emotional energy is invested in other relationships 

• older adolescents are able to see, interact with parents as people

De-Idealization

children no longer see parents as all-knowing, all-powerful

Detachment

adolescents sever emotional attachments to their parents or other authority figures

Individuation

the growing sense of being autonomous, independent person

• begins during infancy

Individuation Entails

• childish dependencies on parents in favour of more mature, responsible relationships

• acceptance of responsibility for choices and actions

Indicators of Changed Relationship/Emotional Autonomy

• seeing parent flaws 

• depending more on slef and less on parents 

• recognizing things about self that parents are unaware of 

• increasing size of social networks 

• possessing different beliefs from parents

• drawing distinctions between aspects of life subject to and not subject to parents authority

De-Idealization of Parents

• involves removing parents from their pedestals

• it may be one of the first pieces of emotional autonomy 

• it may not develop until young adulthood

Development of Autonomy Results in

different psychological effects depending on the closeness of the parent-child relationship

Adolescents Who Have Both Autonomy and Closeness with Their Parents

are psychologically healthier

What Triggers Individualization

• changes in adolescents appearance provoke changes in how adolecents view self and how parents veiw them → alters parents-adolescent interactions

• cogntive development stimulates movement toward individuation

Adolescents Whose Parents Impede the Individuation Process

are more likely to show signs of psychological distress

Adolescents Whose Parents Provide Support for Their Autonomy Report

better emotional health

Psychological Control

parenting that attempts to control the adolescent emotions and opinions

Pyschological Control May Lead To

difficulty individuating, depression, anxiety, aggression, feelings of incompetence and dependence

Parents are Influenced By

their teenagers

What Parents Use Psychological Control Most

Chinese parents

Helicopter Parenting Led To

Chinese adolescents having trouble making decisions

Chinese Adolescents Who Were Over-Controlled Were

• more likely to be depressed and anxious

• caused increased risk of being bullied by peers

What is Fostered by Authoritative Parenting

responsibility, self-esteem and positive mental health

As The Child Matures

standards and guildlines are easy to adjust and modify

Authoritarian Parents See Child’s Emotional Independence As

rebellious or disrespectful

• resist adolescents growing need for independence

In Indulgent and Indifferent Parenting

not enough guidance exists

Permissive Parents

are caught off-guard later by consequences of lack of strictness

SDT Inform and Help Parents to be More

• autonomy supportive

• involed

• structuring

Influences of Parents and Peers on Adolescents

• turn to different people for advice in different situations

• peers for short-term, day-to-day, social matters

• parents for long term

Conformity in Peers is Greater During

first half of adolescents

• strong around age 14

Being Around Other Teenagers Changes the Way Adolescents

brain functions, activating the regions associated with rewards

Not All Peer Influence is Bad

adolescents listen to peers when discouraged from taking risks

Being Popular With Peers Requires

a willingness to engage in behaviours that adults disapprove of

Teens are More Likely to Engage in Risk Taking When

exposed to peers or siblings who endorse such behaviour

Individual Differences in Susceptibility to Peer Influence

• girls are less susceptible than boys

• black adolescents are less susceptible

• Asian American adolescents are particularly susceptible

• youth from single-parent families, less supprotive and more controlling parents are more susceptible

• fewer friends a adolescent has, the more susceptible they are

• adolescents from authoritative home are less susceptible to antisocial peer pressure

Behavioural Autonmy is Associated With

authoritative parenting