So what perspective within
the discipline of social psychology best lends its support
to the idea of the autonomous agent?
The answer to this lies
within the sphere of the experiential perspective. The experiential
perspective has at its centre the premise that the focus for
investigation in social psychology is subjective experience,
particularly that from the viewpoint of the actual experiencing
person (first person experience).
This involves the process
of being aware, both in terms of being aware of things and
people's awareness of being aware (reflexive awareness).
Subjective experience encompasses the richness and variety
of the human inner world, often ignored by other perspectives.
Indeed, without a sense of awareness, people would be unable
to function: unable to experience feelings, remember and learn,
anticipate future events, interact with others and have self-awareness.
It utilises analyses and qualitative accounts to study its
subject matter rather than traditional experiments.
The experiential
approach incorporates phenomenological (what people are aware
of), existential (quality of human existence and the human
condition) and humanistic (personal development and improving
awareness) positions.
The experiential perspective postulates the concept of autonomy
(agency, choice) as an existential issue. Agency is the human
capacity to make choices and undertake change through their
own actions and reasons that people are aware of the consequences
of their actions.
A person's choice (of actions and feelings) will determine
future events or what the person will become: phenomenologically,
people can influence their actions and experience through
the focusing of attention, imagination and reflection and
so generate different ways of creating experience.
However, it should be noted that existentialists recognise restrictions
on people's autonomy:
Heidegger (1962) pointed out what he called "throwness"
in that people are "born at a particular time to particular
people in a particular cultural and historical context."
(p.197). People make choices within different situations/conditions
and so freedom (autonomy) is "situated".
Please note: The above essays and dissertations were written by students and then submitted to us to display and help others. Thanks to all the students who have submitted their work to us.
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