Toward a Social Psychology of Authenticity: Exploring Within-Person Variation in Autonomy, Congruence, and Genuineness Using Self-Determination Theory

Abstract

Authenticity entails autonomy, congruence, and genuineness. In this article, we use a self-determination theory framework to discuss a critical aspect of social environments that facilitates these aspects of authenticity, namely the experience of autonomy support. Although authenticity is often studied as a trait or individual difference, we review research demonstrating that authenticity varies within individuals and predicts variations in well-being. Next, we show that perceiving autonomy support within a relational context is associated with people feeling more authentic and more like their ideal selves and displaying constellations of Big 5 personality traits indicative of greater wellness in that context. To explore another important part of authenticity, being genuine in interactions with others, we review evidence linking autonomy support to situational variation in identity disclosure among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. This research suggests that perceiving autonomy support within a context or relationship helps lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals be more open about their sexual orientation and identity, which in turn affords greater opportunities for the satisfaction of not only autonomy, but competence and relatedness needs as well, facilitating well-being. We conclude by highlighting future directions in the study of authenticity's dynamic nature, and the importance of the situation in its expression and its relation to well-being.

Integrative emotion regulation: Process and development from a self-determination theory perspective

“…In unpacking these emotionally distressing events and fostering greater awareness, counselors do well to adopt an autonomy-supportive stance, taking the clients’ frame of reference, and thereby validating their perspective (Ryan & Deci, 2008; Vansteenkiste & Sheldon, 2006). An autonomy-supportive climate, which is generally conducive to disclosure (Legate, Ryan, & Weinstein, 2012; Ryan & Ryan, 2019), can allow suppressed feelings to (re)emerge, accompanied by a more explorative stance regarding the meaning of the felt emotion in relation to clients’ held values, preferences, and interests. Along the way, initially diffuse negative affect may get differentiated such that clients begin to have a clearer view on the emotions they feel and their meaning (see Gratz & Roemer, 2004), which may afford them more volition and choice with respect to acting on these emotions or their catalysts (Ryan, Lynch, Vansteenkiste, & Deci, 2011).…”

The Role of Perfectionism and Controlling Conditions in Norwegian Elite Junior Performers’ Motivational Processes

“…Moreover, teachers/coaches should be encouraged to pay attention to how they as authority figures and gatekeepers (Nash and Collins, 2006; Burwell, 2013), indirectly (and perhaps unintentionally) hold power, and thus might pressure, control, and affect elite junior performers’ motivation in conditional and, hence, debilitative directions. As an alternative, and in line with the SDT tenets, they should be stimulated and taught how to behave in less controlling and in more autonomy-supportive ways, as research indicates that autonomous functioning might be a proactive coping strategy and resilience factor (Radel et al, 2013; Ryan and Deci, 2017; Ryan and Ryan, 2018).…”

Authenticity Is Correlated With Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence

“…With the advent of these measures there has been new interest in the empirical study of authenticity as an individual difference variable (Joseph, 2016;Ryan & Ryan, 2019). Although the Authenticity Scale is widely used, its underpinnings in Rogers' theory of congruence have been of less interest to researchers.…”