PATH

PROMOTING AUTONOMY, THRIVING & HEALTH

Hello!

Welcome to P.A.T.H. - Promoting Autonomy, Thriving, and Health!

Promoting autonomy is about helping people to be themselves and live in line with their values. When people find themselves in environments that promote their autonomy, they thrive and experience myriad benefits to health and well-being. This is our lab's focus: studying how relationships can promote autonomy, thriving, and health across diverse groups, but especially individuals from marginalized groups (e.g., LGBTQ+ individuals). The work in our lab is guided by self-determination theory, a theory of motivation and well-being arguing that people have fundamental psychological needs for autonomy (the need to live in line with one's values), competence (the need to be effective), and relatedness (the need to meaningfully connect with others). We are based in the Psychology Department at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, Illinois.

Creating a Resilience-Focused Environment

Our lab is committed to serving the underserved and undercared populations, striving to create an inclusive and supportive environment that fosters resilience and well-being.

Our Approach: Self Determination Theory

Our mission at P.A.T.H. is to empower individuals from all walks of life to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. We firmly believe in the fundamental human need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, as proposed by SDT. By leveraging this theory, we aim to uncover the unique challenges faced by minorities and identify the factors that contribute to their psychological well-being and thriving.

Breaking Barriers & Bridging Gaps