autonomysupportive

Autonomy-supportive refers to practices or styles that support a person’s sense of choice and volition. It involves acknowledging feelings, providing meaningful rationale for tasks, offering options, and using noncontrolling language. It contrasts with controlling, pressure-based, or coercive approaches.

The term is grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which identifies autonomy as one of three basic psychological needs alongside competence and relatedness. Satisfying autonomy supports intrinsic motivation, engagement, learning, persistence, and well-being. Autonomy support does not require lax structure; rather, it emphasizes volition and self-endorsed action within appropriate boundaries.

In application, autonomy-supportive practices appear in education, parenting, and the workplace. In education, teachers offer meaningful choices, solicit student perspectives, provide rationales, and minimize pressured evaluation. In parenting, autonomy-supportive approaches respond to children’s interests, encourage problem solving, and supply guidance rather than coercion. In organizations, managers grant meaningful discretion, acknowledge employee input, offer constructive feedback, and reduce controlling monitoring.

Measurement and evidence indicate that autonomy support is associated with higher intrinsic motivation, greater engagement, better performance, and improved well-being across domains. Cultural context can influence how autonomy-supportive actions are perceived and effective, with some traditions emphasizing hierarchy or interdependence. Critics note that autonomy support is not the same as laissez-faire or permissiveness and must be adapted to context and individual differences.

See also Self-Determination Theory, intrinsic motivation, motivational climate, and related constructs in motivation research.