ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a critical look at autonomy with a cultural lens. The main point posited here is that mainstream psychology’s definition and understanding of autonomy is highly influenced by a Western cultural worldview. While autonomy basically refers to self-rule or willful agency, a second meaning is also attributed to it involving separation and independence from close others. Based mainly on an individualistic view of “separation-individuation,” this meaning implies that in order for autonomy to develop, there should be separation from close others (including parents). Thus, autonomy and relatedness are considered to be conflicting. Questioning this view, I have construed autonomy and relatedness as self-attributes along two basic dimensions: agency and interpersonal distance. They also reflect basic needs; hence, I propose their combination, “autonomous-related self,” as a healthy self-construal. A growing body of research from several different cultural contexts provides support to this theoretical perspective.
