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Agency - GCSE Psychology Definition

Reviewed by: Claire Neeson

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In the context of GCSE Psychology, "agency" refers to an individual's capacity to act independently and make their own choices, reflecting the personal power and autonomy one has over their decisions and actions. It highlights the extent to which a person feels in control of their life and can pursue goals, make decisions, and initiate changes, rather than being solely influenced by external forces or the environment. Understanding agency is crucial in psychology as it relates to concepts like motivation, empowerment, and self-determination, helping to explain why people behave differently in similar situations and how they can influence their own psychological well-being and development.

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Claire Neeson

Reviewer: Claire Neeson

Expertise: Psychology Content Creator

Claire has been teaching for 34 years, in the UK and overseas. She has taught GCSE, A-level and IB Psychology which has been a lot of fun and extremely exhausting! Claire is now a freelance Psychology teacher and content creator, producing textbooks, revision notes and (hopefully) exciting and interactive teaching materials for use in the classroom and for exam prep. Her passion (apart from Psychology of course) is roller skating and when she is not working (or watching 'Coronation Street') she can be found busting some impressive moves on her local roller rink.

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