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Autonomy Support as Acceptance for Disclosing and Developing a Healthy Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered Identity

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Human Motivation and Interpersonal Relationships

Abstract

Disclosing a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) identity to others, or coming out, yields mental health benefits, but it can carry the risk of stigmatization, rejection and even violence. We use a self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan RM, Deci EL. Am Psychol 55:68–78, 2000) framework to understand how relationships impact coming out and identity-development processes. We review evidence that autonomy support, or interpersonal acceptance and encouragement for authentic self-expression, conveys acceptance and safety in relationships, and fosters self-disclosure and acceptance of oneself as LGBT. We conclude by proposing some future directions for this line of inquiry, highlighting the importance of furthering research in this area.

Prepared for N. Weinstein (Ed.), Integrating human motivation and interpersonal relationships: Theory, research and applications

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical & Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Nicole Legate

  2. Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    William S. Ryan

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom

    Netta Weinstein

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Legate, N., Ryan, W.S. (2014). Autonomy Support as Acceptance for Disclosing and Developing a Healthy Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered Identity. In: Weinstein, N. (eds) Human Motivation and Interpersonal Relationships. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8542-6_9

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