ISQOLS Webinar, "Who Has Autonomy—and Does It Make Us Happier? Exploring the Social Distribution and Impact of Autonomy"

ISQOLS WEBINAR:

Who Has Autonomy—and Does It Make Us Happier? Exploring the Social Distribution and Impact of Autonomy

Presenter: Dr. Leonie C. Steckermeier

Wednesday, 2 April 9, 2025

11:00am EDT/5:00pm CEST

Economic, cultural, and institutional progress in modern societies has contributed to a shift from a focus on survival to an emphasis on a good life. As a result, individuals have increasingly gained the ability to pursue quality of life and self-actualization. Alongside this development, personal autonomy has become more significant—both intrinsically, as people value broad opportunities and decision-making freedom in itself, and instrumentally, as autonomy enables individuals to shape their lives according to their goals and values.

This webinar begins by introducing the concept of autonomy from a cross-disciplinary perspective, highlighting its meanings and implications in different fields. It then examines the factors that promote or hinder autonomy, both at the individual level—such as gender, age, education, employment, and family situation—and at the societal level, including economic conditions, political rights, civil liberties, and religiosity. Next, it explores the impact of autonomy on well-being, focusing on outcomes such as life satisfaction, happiness, and mental and physical health. Additionally, it will show how autonomy influences the relationship between basic goods—such as financial security, health, safety, and respect—and people's life satisfaction. Finally, the discussion will briefly address potential negative consequences of excessive autonomy for societal welfare.