Self-Determination and Causal Agency Theory: Integrating Research into Practice (Positive Psychology and Disability Series)

Self-determination has long been a focus of the disability community, and we are privileged to have the opportunity to play a small role in thinking about ways that people with disabilities, families, professionals, researchers, and other supporters can – through theory, research, policy, and practice – dismantle systemic barriers and create culturally sustaining opportunities that advance the right to be self-determined. While researchers in the disability field have acknowledged, repeatedly, that promoting self-determination is critical across the life course and attention should be focused on self-determination research, policy, and practice, we have not always fully interrogated the systemic barriers that limit opportunities, experiences, and supports that enable the development of self-determination. Nor have we centered the voices and lived experiences of people with disabilities to shape theory, research, policy, and practice. In this book, we hope to take one step forward to change that. By more fully developing and explicating the role of Causal Agency Theory across the life course while acknowledging the barriers, including systemic racism, ableism, and sexism that limit self-determination in the lives of people with disabilities, our goal is to advance change in ways that ultimately lead to systems of supports that create opportunities for each person to live self-determined lives in the ways they value and that matter to them. Our hope is that the ideas in this book will continue to be discussed, critiqued, and advanced, particularly through the leadership of the disability community in all phases of theory, research, policy, and practice development. Preface Contents Part I: Overview and Introduction Chapter 1: Positive Psychology and Disability: Creating a Context for Self-Determination 1.1 Defining Disability: Social-Ecological Models 1.1.1 Historic Conceptions of Disability 1.1.2 Elements of a Social-Ecological Model of Disability 1.1.2.1 Personal Competencies 1.1.2.2 Environmental Demands 1.1.2.3 Support Needs 1.2 Positive Psychology and Strengths-Based Approaches 1.3 Implications of Strengths-Based, Social-Ecological Approaches to Disability References Chapter 2: Theoretical Underpinnings and Approaches to Self-Determination 2.1 History of Self-Determination in the Disability Field 2.1.1 History of Self-Determination in Philosophy, Early Psychology, and International Law 2.1.2 History of Self-Determination as a Personal Construct: Human Agentic Theories 2.1.3 History of Self-Determination as a Personal Construct: Motivational Psychology 2.2 Applications in Disability, Special Education, and Community-Based Services and Supports 2.3 Implications for Current Theory: The Emergence of Causal Agency Theory References Part II: Foundations of Casual Agency Theory Chapter 3: Causal Agency Theory: A Theoretical Framework for Understanding Self-Determination 3.1 Why Causal Agency Theory? 3.1.1 Defining Self-Determination in Causal Agency Theory 3.1.2 Key Assumptions of Causal Agency Theory 3.2 Implications for Inclusive Supports for Self-Determination References Chapter 4: Causal Agency Theory: Defining Self-Determined Actions 4.1 Self-Determined Actions as Defined by Causal Agency Theory 4.1.1 Volitional Action (Decide) 4.1.1.1 Abilities, Attitudes, and Skills Associated with Volitional Action (Decide) 4.1.1.1.1 Choice-Making 4.1.1.1.2 Decision-Making 4.1.1.1.3 Goal-Setting 4.1.1.2 Volitional Action: Connecting Theory to Practice 4.1.2 Agentic Action (Act) 4.1.2.1 Abilities, Attitudes, and Skills Associated with Agentic Action (Act) 4.1.2.1.1 Self-Management 4.1.2.1.2 Planning 4.1.2.1.3 Goal Attainment 4.1.2.1.4 Problem-Solving 4.1.2.1.5 Self-Advocacy 4.1.2.2 Agentic Action (Act): Connecting Theory to Practice 4.1.3 Action-Control Beliefs (Believe) 4.1.3.1 Abilities, Attitudes, and Skills Associated with Action-Control Beliefs (Believe) 4.1.3.1.1 Self-Awareness 4.1.3.1.2 Self-Knowledge 4.1.3.2 Action-Control Beliefs (Believe): Connecting Theory to Practice 4.2 Using Self-Determined Actions to Guide Assessment and Intervention References Chapter 5: Causal Agency Theory: Autonomy-Supportive Environments and Interventions 5.1 What Are Autonomy-Supportive Environments and Interventions? 5.1.1 Autonomy-Supportive Environments 5.1.2 Autonomy-Supportive Interventions 5.2 Role of Autonomy-Supportive Environments and Interventions in the Development of Self-Determination References Part III: Research on Casual Agency Theory and Its Application Chapter 6: Assessment of Self-Determination 6.1 History of Self-Determination Assessment 6.2 Self-Determination Inventory System 6.2.1 Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report 6.2.2 Self-Determination Inventory: Parent/Teacher Report (SDI:PTR) 6.2.3 Self-Determination Inventory: Adult Report (SDI:AR) 6.3 Emerging Directions in Self-Determination Assessment 6.4 Self-Determination Assessment to Drive Intervention and Supports Planning References Chapter 7: Autonomy-Supportive Environments 7.1 Building Autonomy-Supportive Environments 7.1.1 Education 7.1.2 Employment 7.2 Building Systems of Supports for Autonomy-Supportive Environments References Chapter 8: Autonomy-Supportive Interventions 8.1 Autonomy-Supportive Interventions Across the Life Course 8.1.1 Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) and Self-Determined Career Design Model (SDCDM) 8.1.1.1 Research on the Impact of the SDLMI and SDCDM 8.2 Emerging Directions in Research and Practice References Chapter 9: Individualizing Supports for Self-Determination 9.1 Context: A Multidimensional Understanding 9.2 Research on Impact of Contextual Factors on Self-Determination 9.2.1 Culture 9.2.2 Creating Individualized Systems of Supports 9.2.3 Emerging Directions References Part IV: Implications of Casual Agency Theory for Promoting Self-Determination Chapter 10: Supporting Self-Determination in Childhood 10.1 Environmental Supports for Promoting Self-Determination in Childhood 10.2 Teaching Abilities, Skills, and Attitudes Associated with Self-Determination During Childhood 10.2.1 Teaching Choice-Making and Decision-Making Skills 10.2.2 Teaching Problem-Solving Skills 10.2.3 Teaching Executive Abilities 10.2.4 Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills 10.2.5 Teaching Goal-Setting and Attainment Skills 10.3 Supports for Self-Determination: Families and Self-Determination in Childhood 10.4 Inclusive and Culturally Sustaining Supports References Chapter 11: Supporting Self-Determination in Adolescence 11.1 Environmental Supports for Promoting Self-Determination in Adolescence 11.2 Teaching Abilities, Skills, and Attitudes Associated with Self-Determination During Adolescence 11.2.1 Teaching Decision-Making Skills 11.2.2 Teaching Self-Management Skills 11.2.3 Teaching Goal-Setting and Attainment Skills 11.2.4 Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills 11.3 Supports for Self-Determination: Families and Self-Determination in Adolescence 11.4 Inclusive and Culturally Sustaining Supports References Chapter 12: Supporting Self-Determination in Adulthood 12.1 Environmental Supports for Promoting Self-Determination in Adulthood 12.2 Teaching Abilities, Skills, and Attitudes Associated with Self-Determination During Adulthood 12.2.1 Teaching Problem-Solving Skills 12.2.2 Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills 12.3 Supports for Self-Determination: Families and Self-Determination in Adulthood 12.4 Inclusive and Culturally Sustaining Supports References Part V: Conclusions and Future Directions in Research and Practice Chapter 13: Ongoing Research and Theory Development 13.1 Implications for Theory 13.2 Implications for Research 13.3 Implications for Policy 13.4 Implications for Practice Chapter 14: Future Directions: Self-Determination, Causal Agency Theory, and Positive Psychology Index This book introduces Casual Agency Theory as a framework for defining self-determination and describing its development and essential characteristics. It synthesizes the research on promoting and enhancing self-determination and explores implications for practice in a disability context across the life course. The book also highlights future directions for theory, research, and practice in areas of positive psychology and disability. Key areas of coverage include: Theoretical basis of the development of self-determination as well as research findings and implications for practice across the life course. Issues relating to the implementation of evidence-based practices to promote self-determination in a disability context. Potential strategies for overcoming barriers to self-determination through research-based practices. Future directions for further integrating Casual Agency Theory into positive psychology interventions and the systems of supports in the disability field. Self-Determination and Causal Agency Theory is an essential resource for researchers, professors, and graduate students as well as clinicians, therapists, and other professionals in the fields of developmental and positive psychology, educational policy and practice, special education, social work, occupational, speech, and language therapy, public health, and healthcare policy.