"agency"

[sandyRoe]

People used to talk of 'an agency', and still do.
I've recently heard speakers on the wireless use the phrase, 'have agency'. Is this a new use of the word?

[Flonska]

In social science, agency is the capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices.

Have a read of this . . . . for some more information

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agency_(sociology)

[sandyRoe]

Thank you. I live and learn.

[Flonska]

Me too . . . and I suspect . . . a good many others!

Other frequently used expressions appear to be "develop coping strategies" and "have conversations about . . ." In my vocabulary, these mean (a) handle (b) talk - irrespective of whether or not there is an "elephant in the room."

Thanks for the BA! :-)

[Old_Geezer]

Ah, professional jargon then. This time from social sciences. Probably many many words known only to a few due to that.

[Togo]

“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.”
George Orwell, 1984