Why Young People Need Autonomy to Thrive

The traditional paradigm of education is fundamentally based on compliance and control. Getting students to sit in rows, stand in a straight line, turn in assignments on time, and regurgitate information delivered by a teacher.We know that such environments do not support intrinsic motivation and prohibit deep learning. It is also clear, through recent research, that such environments go against our human nature.In a recent study titled “Paths to the Light and Dark Sides of Human Nature: A Meta-analysis of the Prosocial Benefits of Autonomy and the Antisocial Costs of Control” researchers analyzed hundreds of psychological studies which showed strong correlations between giving people autonomy and their prosocial behavior. They also found that environments of control, which limit autonomy and choice, produce antisocial attitudes, where individuals are more likely to harm others.If our schools, which are the primary ways in which we socialize our young people, are environments which are proven to lead to antisocial attitudes, it’s no wonder we have the modern society that we have.I dive into this research and what it means for education and the social revolution in the latest Breaking the Paradigm podcast. Enjoy!Breaking the Paradigm of Traditional Education is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Join The Enlightened Educator Project!The Enlightened Educator Project is on a mission to to develop mindful, reflective, and resilient educators to make education more humanizing and sustainable for all.If this resonates with you, we are looking for schools and individuals to join our cohort of educators who are building community and resilience together. Cohorts start in the Fall and Winter.Check out our website at www.EnlightenedEducatorProject.org and learn more about our school cohort model here!https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lE1Z3lQFkiZ9YZtPlvkSutdverMrBcz_/view?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breakingtheparadigm.org/subscribe

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