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The Dynamics of Volitional Reliance

A Motivational Perspective on Dependence, Independence, and Social Support

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Sourcebook of Social Support and Personality

Part of the book series: The Springer Series in Social/Clinical Psychology ((SSSC))

Abstract

The idea of self-reliance can evoke quite disparate images in the minds of people from different backgrounds and cultures. For some, self-reliance implies competence, independence, resourcefulness, and strength of character. Self-reliant persons are those who “keep their chins up,” “pull themselves up by their own bootstraps,” and “stand on their own two feet.” This vision of the self-reliant person as stoic, self-empowered, and purposive is prominent in individualistic cultural ideologies; it is associated with the ideals of self-efficacy, personal determination, and progress (Bellah, Madsen, Sullivan, Swidler, & Tipton, 1985; May, 1991, Triandis, 1989). The converse of this idealized image is a view of non-self-reliance (dependence) as weakness, immaturity, or incompetence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, 14627, USA

    Jessica Solky Butzel & Richard M. Ryan

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  1. Jessica Solky Butzel
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, 13323, USA

    Gregory R. Pierce

  2. Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 48202, USA

    Brian Lakey

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    Irwin G. Sarason  & Barbara R. Sarason  & 

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Butzel, J.S., Ryan, R.M. (1997). The Dynamics of Volitional Reliance. In: Pierce, G.R., Lakey, B., Sarason, I.G., Sarason, B.R. (eds) Sourcebook of Social Support and Personality. The Springer Series in Social/Clinical Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1843-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1843-7_3

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