human agency
The capacity of people to make their own choices and act on them, a central idea in philosophy, psychology and social science.
Definition
Human agency refers to the ability of individuals to form intentions, make decisions and act in ways that shape their own lives. Philosophers debate how it fits with causation and free will, while sociologists discuss how far agency is enabled or limited by social structures such as law, money and institutions. In psychology, a sense of agency is the feeling of being the author of your own actions. The phrase is unrelated to commercial agencies except by shared root: both come from the idea of acting. Writers use it when discussing autonomy, empowerment and responsibility.
In a sentence
Good design preserves human agency by letting users override automated suggestions.
The essay asks how much agency workers really have inside rigid systems.
Common mix-up
Not the same as a marketing or talent agency. Here the word means the power to act, not an organization.
