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Human Autonomy in Cross-Cultural Context pp 191–206Cite as

Capitalism and Autonomy

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Part of the book series: Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology ((CAPP,volume 1))

Abstract

The means by which a culture organizes itself economically has important implications for people’s experience of autonomy. Despite claims that freedom is maximized under the form of neo-liberal, laissez-fair capitalism practiced in many Anglo-nations, several types of evidence suggest that the values, ideologies, and institutions of such economic systems can diminish people’s feelings of self-determination. For example, new analyses presented in this chapter show that, compared to citizens living in wealthy nations that place more restrictions on the activity of the “free market,” citizens living in “economically free” wealthy nations more highly value power and hierarchy, and view self-direction and intellectual autonomy as less important. Other research reviewed here shows that some of the personal beliefs, behaviors, and laws central to the smooth functioning of laissez-faire, consumer capitalism do not provide people with optimal experiences of freedom and autonomy. This analysis thus demonstrates the potential usefulness of self-determination theory for understanding economic systems in particular and cultural systems in general.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Knox College, Galesburg, IL, 61401, USA

    Tim Kasser

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  1. Tim Kasser
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Correspondence to Tim Kasser .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Campus Drive 9, Saskatoon, S7N 5A5, Saskatchewan, Canada

    Valery I. Chirkov

  2. Dept. Psychology,, Psychiatry & Education, University of Rochester, Rochester, 14627, New York, USA

    Richard M. Ryan

  3. Dept. Psychology, University of Missouri, McAlester Hall 112, Columbia, 65211, Missouri, USA

    Kennon M. Sheldon

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Kasser, T. (2011). Capitalism and Autonomy. In: Chirkov, V., Ryan, R., Sheldon, K. (eds) Human Autonomy in Cross-Cultural Context. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9667-8_9

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