Connection Versus Autonomy

Connection versus Autonomy

The life cycle

Hold me tight

Put me down

Leave me alone

We need to balance desires for self with the desires for the relationship

No one is an island. Recognizing this fact, we seek out involvment with others. But, at the same time we are unwilling to sacrifice our entire identity to even the most satisfying relationship. This is called connection-autonomy dialect

hold me tight * small children *new relationships

put me down *''I can do it myself''' *couples start activities that do not involve eachother

Leave me alone *Teenager *we need space