Benard (1995) describes autonomy:
"Autonomy has to do with a sense of one's own identity. It involves an ability to act independently and to exert some control over one's environment, and includes a sense of task mastery, internal locus of control, self-agency, and self-efficacy. The development of resistance (refusing to accept negative messages about oneself or one's culture) and of detachment (distancing oneself from parental, school, or community dysfunction) serves as a powerful protector of autonomy." (p. 67)
