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Provided that autonomy means independent and effective functioning in a variety of life domains ranging from basic activities of daily living to complex decision processes |
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Although developmental researchers have primarily examined the dynamics between dependency and autonomy from childhood to adolescence |
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Because dependency means the ongoing need for external support in order to fulfil individual or societal expectations regarding what a ‘normal’ life is |
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Even if one of the interpretations of dependency encompasses human needs for affiliation, attachment, and bonding to significant others |
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While the developmental goal of maintaining autonomy in a wide variety of life domains over the life span is one of the highest values in most Western cultures |