The Significance of Autonomy and Autonomy Support in Psychological Development and Psychopathology

Ryan, Richard M.; Deci, Edward L.; Grolnick, Wendy S.; Guardia, Jennifer G. La

doi:10.1002/9780470939383.ch20

Cited by 276 publications

(352 citation statements)

References 199 publications

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“…Too much distance taking too early in adolescence may be particularly problematic and at odds with maintaining a warm relationship with the parents (e.g., Collins & Steinberg, 2006;Montemayor, 1986;Smetana, 1996). Experiencing a sense of volition, on the other hand, has been found to be unequivocally beneficial for adolescents' adjustment (e.g., Ryan, Deci, Grolnick, & LaGuardia, 2006;Ryan & Lynch, 1989;Vansteenkiste, Niemiec, & Soenens, 2010). Apart from their different adjustment correlates, we argue herein that the distinction between volition and distance is also critical to understand, whether or not oppositional defiance to parental rules predicts more adolescent autonomy.…”

Section: Two Conceptualizations Of Autonomymentioning

confidence: 78%

Examining the longitudinal association between oppositional defiance and autonomy in adolescence.

Petegem¹,

Vansteenkiste²,

Soenens³

et al. 2015

Developmental Psychology

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In this longitudinal study, we tested whether the association between oppositional defiance to parental authority (i.e., adolescents' tendency to bluntly reject parental rules) and autonomy would depend upon the specific conceptualization of autonomy. Whereas oppositional defiance would yield more interpersonal distance from parents, because it involves turning away from parental authority, it would also yield less volitional functioning, as oppositional defiance would come at the expense of acting upon one's personal values and interests. A sample of 387 middle and late adolescents (age range ϭ 14 -20 years at Time 1) filled out questionnaires at 2 time points, separated by a 2-year interval. With increasing age, adolescents reported less oppositional defiance and more volitional functioning. Late adolescents in particular reported less interpersonal distance from their parents. Cross-lagged analyses indicated that oppositional defiance predicted increases in interpersonal distance as well as decreases in volitional functioning across time. Conversely, higher scores on volitional functioning predicted decreases in oppositional defiance. These findings emphasize the necessity of a differentiated approach to autonomy.

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Section: Two Conceptualizations Of Autonomymentioning

confidence: 78%

Examining the longitudinal association between oppositional defiance and autonomy in adolescence.

Petegem¹,

Vansteenkiste²,

Soenens³

et al. 2015

Developmental Psychology

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show abstract

“…Therefore, it is advisable that therapy also focuses on the promotion of the use of an adequate emotion regulation style to deal with need frustrating experiences. One such style of adequate emotion regulation may be an integrative style, where patients develop an active interest in the causes of their experiences of need frustration and the capacity to learn from these experiences in terms of future behavior (Ryan et al, 2006). Second, it may be important to encourage patients to engage in activities that satisfy their needs.…”

Section: Prevention and Treatment Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within SDT it is maintained that the frustration of the psychological needs is implicated in various forms of psychopathology, including eating pathology (Ryan et al, 2006). Frustration of basic psychological needs represents a potential theory-driven and general mechanism that may account for the association between SC perfectionism and binge eating symptoms.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-critical perfectionism and binge eating symptoms: A longitudinal test of the intervening role of psychological need frustration.

Boone¹,

Vansteenkiste²,

Soenens³

et al. 2014

Journal of Counseling Psychology

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Although abundant research has shown that self-critical perfectionism relates to binge eating symptoms, fewer studies have addressed the role of intervening processes that might explain why this is the case. Grounded in self-determination theory, we hypothesized that self-critical perfectionism would relate to an increased risk for binge eating symptoms because it engenders frustration of the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This hypothesis was tested in a sample of 566 adolescents (72% female; mean age = 13.3 years) using a 3-wave longitudinal study with a 6-month interval. Structural equation modeling analyses showed that self-critical perfectionism related to increases in psychological need frustration which, in turn, predicted increases in binge eating symptoms. Structural relations were found to be equivalent for males and females. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

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“…Issues of autonomy and integration are in fact frequently implicated in the development of psychopathology (Ryan, Deci, Grolnick, & La Guardia, 2006). Historically, clinical literatures have highlighted that many forms of behavioral and mental disorders are characterized by autonomy disturbances (e.g., Shapiro, 1981;Winnicott, 1965).…”

Section: Autonomy Growth and Psychopathologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It can also be related to psychodynamic (e.g., Schafer, 1968;Loevinger, 1976;Shapiro, 1981) and humanistic (e.g., Rogers, 1963) traditions that have considered autonomy and integration to be highly important. Whether addressed in terms of self-endorsement, congruence, self-actualization, authenticity, will, or operating from the true self (see Ryan et al, 2006) many of these prior thinkers were addressing a shared idea, which is termed autonomy within SDT.…”

Section: Autonomous Regulation and Facilitative Environments Autonomomentioning

confidence: 99%

Autonomy and Autonomy Disturbances in Self‐Development and Psychopathology: Research on Motivation, Attachment, and Clinical Process

Ryan

Deci

Vansteenkiste³

2016

Developmental Psychopathology

Self Cite

205

163

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Self‐determination theory (SDT) maintains that the adequate support and satisfaction of individuals' psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness promotes the gradual unfolding of individuals' integrative tendencies, as manifested through intrinsic motivation, internalization, identity development, and integrative emotion regulation. At the same time, the thwarting of these same psychological needs and the resultant need frustration is presumed to evoke or amplify a variety of psychopathologies, many of which involve autonomy disturbances. We begin by defining what autonomy involves and how socializing agents, particularly parents, can provide a nurturing (i.e., need‐supportive) environment, and we review research within the SDT literature that has shed light on various integrative tendencies and how caregivers facilitate them. In the second part of this chapter, we detail how many forms of psychopathology involve autonomy disturbances and are associated with a history of psychological need thwarting. We especially focus on internally controlling regulation in internalizing disorders; impairments of internalization in conduct disorders and antisocial behavior; and fragmented self‐functioning in borderline and dissociative disorders. The role of autonomy support as an ameliorative factor in treatment settings is then discussed among other translational issues. Finally we highlight some implications of recognizing the important role of basic psychological needs for both growth‐related and pathology‐related processes.

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The Significance of Autonomy and Autonomy Support in Psychological Development and Psychopathology

Cited by 276 publications

References 199 publications

Examining the longitudinal association between oppositional defiance and autonomy in adolescence.

Examining the longitudinal association between oppositional defiance and autonomy in adolescence.

Self-critical perfectionism and binge eating symptoms: A longitudinal test of the intervening role of psychological need frustration.

Autonomy and Autonomy Disturbances in Self‐Development and Psychopathology: Research on Motivation, Attachment, and Clinical Process

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