Selbstgewählte

Selbstgewählte is a German attributive adjective formed from selbst (self) and gewählt (chosen). It describes something that has been chosen by oneself, emphasizing personal autonomy or voluntary selection. The term is commonly used in everyday language as well as in academic and professional discourses to indicate agency in decision-making.

Grammatical note: As an attributive adjective, selbstgewählt changes its ending according to the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies. Examples include: eine selbstgewählte Aufgabe (feminine singular), selbstgewählte Aufgaben (plural), ein selbstgewählter Lebensweg (masculine singular), ein selbstgewähltes System (neuter singular), die selbstgewählten Stichproben (plural). The form selbstgewählte is typical before feminine singular nouns and before plural nouns; masculine and neuter forms are selbstgewählter and selbstgewähltes, respectively.

Usage and contexts: The term is used across various domains to stress voluntary choice. In personal contexts, it can describe self-chosen goals, paths, or responsibilities, such as selbstgewählte Lebenswege or selbstgewählte Aufgaben. In research and statistics, it appears in the phrase selbstgewählte Stichprobe, referring to samples where participants opted in themselves, a situation that can introduce self-selection bias. In organizational or educational settings, selbstgewählte Optionen or Wege may denote decisions made autonomously by individuals rather than imposed by others.

Relation to related concepts: Selbstgewählte often sits near discussions of autonomy and agency, alongside Selbstbestimmung (self-determination) and Selbstwirksamkeit (self-efficacy). It highlights a voluntary dimension in choice, rather than coercion or external assignment.

See also: Selbstbestimmung, Selbstwirksamkeit, Stichprobe, Lebensweg.