Differentiating autonomy from individualism and independence: A self-determination theory perspective on internalization of cultural orientations and well-being.

2003/01/01 by Valery Chirkov, Richard M. Ryan, Youngmee Kim +1 · 5 citations
Psychology · #Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports #Cultural Differences and Values #Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

paper · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.1.97

openalex publication_date 2003/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

On the basis of self-determination theory (R. M. Ryan & E. L. Deci, 2000) and cultural descriptions drawn from H. C. Triandis (1995), the authors hypothesized that (a) individuals from different cultures internalize different cultural practices; (b) despite these differences, the relative autonomy of individuals' motivation for those practices predicts well-being in all 4 cultures examined; and (c) horizontal practices are more readily internalized than vertical practices across all samples. Five hundred fifty-nine persons from South Korea, Russia, Turkey and the United States participated. Results supported the hypothesized relations between autonomy and well-being across cultures and gender. Results also suggested greater internalization of horizontal relative to vertical practices. Discussion focuses on the distinction between autonomy and individualism and the relative fit of cultural forms with basic psychological needs.

Citations

• Psychological Needs and the Facilitation of Integrative Processes
• Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior
• Culture and Subjective Well-Being
• The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior
• On Happiness and Human Potentials: A Review of Research on Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being
• Advances In Experimental Social Psychology
• Emotional Autonomy versus Detachment: Revisiting the Vicissitudes of Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being.

Cited by

• Culture and Subjective Well-Being
• The Mediating Role of Parental Expectations in Culture and Well‐Being
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• Parenting, self‐regulation, and sibling relationship dynamics in early childhood
• Social determinism [wikipedia]