Understanding Self-Determination: Individual and Collective Perspectives

Self-determination is a complex concept that can be understood from both individual and collective perspectives.

Individual Self-Determination

From an individual perspective, self-determination is derived from one's experience of autonomy, volition, or "free will" in relation to one's actions. This concept is typically conceived in terms of personal experiences. Self-determined motivation arises from within the person, as opposed to non-self-determined motives which arise from external sources and are maintained by external incentives such as rewards or punishments (Deci, Koestner, & Ryan, 1999).

Collective Self-Determination

Collective self-determination, on the other hand, is often considered in relation to international human rights and social justice. It refers to the right of people to determine their own political status and "freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development" (United Nations Human Rights, Article 1). This concept is explicitly conceptualized in terms of the rights of groups or "peoples".

When individuals identify with a group, they tend to perceive themselves and others in terms of the conventions of the social groups to which they belong (Turner et al., 1987).

Current research highlights that helping can provide an important identity-affirming function, promoting feelings of pride or satisfaction within the group (Harth, Leach, & Kessler, 2013).

The distinction between membership and representative action is highly relevant to an analysis of collective self-determination. Actions that are undertaken by group members themselves may be experienced as more autonomous expressions of group values.

For more detailed information, please refer to the original research.