Yesterday, we reviewed some research that linked autonomy to happiness.
This led to defining the difference between the related concepts of agency.
As we defined yesterday,
“Both imply a level of independence, self-direction, and self-determination to shape experiences. Agency is the feeling of control in our life. Autonomy is the ability to make your own decisions.”
Today, let’s dig a bit deeper into what makes them different and how to tell one from the other.
The Differences
Looking at the four areas below, we start to uncover the nuance of how the two are unique.
- Scope of Influence
- Agency – The ability to act and choose within a set of options.
- Autonomy – The ability to set the course of our lives aligned with personal values.
- External Factors
- Agency – Able to exist within external constraints or influences.
- Autonomy – Able to make decisions free from undue influence or coercion.
- Relationship to Others
- Agency – Able to make choices while considering external factors & interactions.
- Autonomy – Emphasizes self-governance and acting on internal motivations and values regardless of external expectations.
- Psychological Aspects
- Agency – Feeling in control and empowered to make choices.
- Autonomy – Inner freedom and self-sufficiency contributing to deep fulfillment.
My Perspective
When I read the differences, autonomy is the collection of boundaries others have created for us.
These may be physical or emotional.
They create an invisible box of what is possible.
Agency is how we deal with the invisible box.
Knowing this is what drives happiness, we can start to understand our own lives.
What does our invisible box look like and how do we behave within it?
Your Turn
Do these differences help you understand how agency & autonomy are unique?
How does your own life look?
Do you know the edges of your invisible box?