Functional and Dysfunctional Personality Characteristics of People with Different Levels of Autonomous Functioning

In the modern world, the value of freedom, independence, and individual achievement is growing, and autonomy remains one of the most sought-after constructs in psychological research. Although autonomy is often associated with a “positive” image of a person, there are also criticisms of this phenomenon in the literature. The purpose of the study was to identify both functional and dysfunctional personality traits in people with different levels of autonomy functioning. A total of 209 people (70 males, 138 females) between the ages of 18 and 75 participated in the quantitative study. Data were collected through an online platform. Based on the results of the latent profile analysis, 4 profiles were identified, divided according to the level of autonomy. Each profile was meaningfully described in terms of functional and dysfunctional features. Our assumptions about the existence of a type of highly autonomous people who, while having functional features and a high level of personal development and productivity, also have dysfunctional personality traits were confirmed. The study revealed the ambivalent nature of autonomy combining functional and dysfunctional traits in the context of personality self-regulation and trait theory. The results obtained set the task of further theoretical understanding of the duality of manifestations of personality autonomy and its dysfunctional aspects.