Throughout my blog, I discuss in-group versus out-group membership, the individual versus the collective, emic and etic distinction, and other related topics which compare and contrast differing perspectives related to self-determination and autonomy.
Unlike political self-determination, which one source describes as referring “to a people’s right to form its own political entity, and internal self-determination is the right to representative government with full suffrage,” I’m using self-determination in the theoretical sense. Clarifying this matter, one source states:
Self-determination theory (SDT) is a macro theory of human motivation and personality that concerns people’s innate growth tendencies and innate psychological needs. It pertains to the motivation behind people’s choices in the absence of external influences and distractions. SDT focuses on the degree to which human behavior is self-motivated and self-determined.
As an example, if given an option to practice either self-care or self-soothing, I maintain that the former is better aligned with my interests and goals than the latter. Therefore, self-deterministically, I would choose self-care. Regarding autonomy, one source states:
In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy is the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision. Autonomous organizations or institutions are independent or self-governing. Autonomy can also be defined from a human resources perspective, where it denotes a (relatively high) level of discretion granted to an employee in his or her work.
In such cases, autonomy is known to generally increase job satisfaction. Self-actualized individuals are thought to operate autonomously of external expectations. In a medical context, respect for a patient’s personal autonomy is considered one of many fundamental ethical principles in medicine.
Given the aforementioned example, I’m afforded autonomy by having the ability to act on my self-determined choice. To clarify this distinction, one source states, “Self-determination refers to the ability to make choices and decisions for oneself, while autonomy refers to the freedom to act on those choices and decisions.”
To elucidate, forgive me a personal anecdote. When I was a child and my dad presented me with an option to either eat liver and onions for dinner or receive a spanking (corporal punishment), I was given a choice though a threat of physical violence was in essence not much of a choice at all.
Therefore, I was provided the illusion of self-determination and autonomy though, pragmatically speaking, I wasn’t given reasonable options such as eating either liver and onions or a bologna sandwich (practical alternative). Perhaps you reject this anecdotal distinction.
Suppose I told you that you can either read each of my blogposts or allow me to repeatedly strike you with a belt. Do you believe these false dichotomous options are pragmatic, or would you perhaps suggest an alternative choice?
The ability to make a practical and well-informed decision is what self-determination is all about. Likewise, the ability to act on your own determination by offering a third option to the blog-belt dilemma—like perhaps choosing to do neither—is how autonomy works.
One of the reasons I value self-determination and autonomy when practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with clients is because after being presented with the ABC model and unconditional acceptance relating to reducing self-disturbance, people can choose to accept or reject these techniques.
Similarly, when I present theoretical perspectives related to humanism, existentialism, and Stoicism, clients can make their own decisions about whether or not to adopt these frameworks. Even when relying on a scientific approach to wellness, clients can make their own decisions irrespective of evidence.
Concerning this matter, one source states, “In social science, agency is the capacity of individuals to have the power and resources to fulfill their potential.” Thus, personal agency is the capacity to effect change in one’s own life.
I understand that my clients have personal agency (ability to control one’s own behavior and react to circumstances beyond one’s control) to use self-determination (make choices) from positions of autonomy (independent action). This matter relates to self-empowerment.
Additionally, I further comprehend that each of my clients is encouraged to exercise personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”). Here, responsibility relates to what one determines to do and accountability is the consequence of performing or not performing that obligation.
Therefore, if clients fail to exercise control over their behavior by neglecting helpful choices when acting independently, then personal ownership is a matter with which they will contend. Thus, I may witness some people self-deterministically and autonomously self-disturbing in a disempowering manner.
Although I remain rationally compassionate when people act against their interests and goals, I appreciate that they have options to free themselves from needless suffering – if they so choose to improve their lives. Of this, I’m reminded of what I heard when training for work associated with personality disorders.
The course trainer stated of care related to mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), “Treatment is like re-parenting.” Regarding this topic, the late psychologist who developed REBT, Albert Ellis, once stated:
I feel that it is far better to raise individuals so that they do not become seriously disturbed in the first place rather than trying to get them over their already well developed disturbances in the second place.
In much the same manner as many parents teach their children lessons of life – some appropriately, inappropriately, and neutrally illustrated – I provide clients with a form of re-parenting with which they are offered choices. With hope, they will choose the less disturbed options available to them.
Still, as is the case with many parents and others who raise children, not always do self-determined and autonomous individuals make helpful decisions. While some people may balk at beliefs regarding the comparison between clients and children, no insult is intended herein.
Rather, I merely aim to communicate that I hope clients will make healthy choices, yet they are well within their personal liberty to do otherwise. If this approach to mental health care is something in which you’re interested, I look forward to hearing from you.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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