Definition of "self-reliance" [self•-re•li•ance]

• Reliance on one's own capabilities, judgment, or resources; independence. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Confucianism, etc., members of individualist societies like the U.S.A. are characterized by self-reliance, individual achievement, and an emphasis on personal goals."
• "An emphasis on self-reliance is also predicted by education, liberal political ideology, and race white, but religiosity remains the most powerful single predictor of this measure, even when other demographic factors are controlled."
• "People with pro-life attitudes are not only more religious when compared to those on the pro-choice side, they are far more likely to disapprove of premarital sex, to believe that it is best if women do not work outside the home, and to say that children should be taught obedience over self-reliance."