The condition or state of being autonomous, able to make decisions unaided by others. [auto- + G. nomos, law]
- functional a. in social psychology, the tendency of a developed motive system ( e.g., motive of acquisition) to become independent of the primary or innate drive from which it originated ( e.g., need for food).
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1) the quality or state of being independent, free, and self-directing
2) independence from the organism as a whole in the capacity of a part for growth, reactivity, or responsiveness
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au·ton·o·my (aw-tonґə-me) [auto- + Gr. nomos law] the state of functioning independently, without extraneous influence. autonomous adjMedical dictionary. 2011.