Free will has been up for discussion among psychologists, psychiatrists, philosophers and citizens of various countries. Everyone likes to have free will – the ability to choose a course of action where they are not bound by past events. But not everyone believes in free will; people from Western and Asian cultures have a different perspective on the concept.
Free will is described as the ability to make decisions freely. The argument against it is that every decision we make is influenced by previous life experiences which make us respond to choices in a particular way; hence, this is not free will.
The aim of this present study was not to find the answer to this debate, though, rather to understand the consequences of individual differences in the belief in free will.
Previous studies conducted in the West have shown that a stronger belief in free will is associated with better work performance, better academic achievements, less conformity, less cheating and increased happiness or subjective wellbeing (SWB).
When the participants in a previous study were introduced to material discouraging a belief in free will, they exhibited more cheating behaviour, more aggression, less helpfulness and less self-control, leading scientists to conclude that a belief in free will had a positive effect on happiness and on an individual’s personality.
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As these previous studies were conducted with US participants, it becomes imperative to understand whether this relationship between free will and happiness is specific to Western culture or if it encompasses other cultures too.
Previous research has shown that individuals from the West and those from Eastern Asia have different core beliefs about free will. Western culture is attributed with a large focus on personal choice, individual freedom and independence whereas the collectivist cultures of East Asia tend to focus on interdependence, group goals with less focus on personal freedom. In light of this information, it would be accurate to assume that the outcomes of belief in free will differ across cultures and so to question whether the belief in free will have the same positive influence on happiness in collectivist cultures.
To test this, researchers in China explored this association with two large independent groups consisting of Chinese high school students. Both groups were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their belief in free will. The second group was asked a two-alternative-choice question regarding the existence of free will.
The study found 85 per cent of the students were free will believers while 15 per cent were determinism believers (those who believe that all behaviour is caused by preceding factors and is thus predictable). The study found that free will believers had a higher life satisfaction including positive moods and feelings but fewer unpleasant feeling and moods than determinism believers.
The study implies that the belief in free will is linked to positive outcomes and has a beneficial effect on happiness, regardless of culture.
Whatever the argument is on the concept of free will , it seems that an individual belief in free will is enough to increase satisfaction and happiness.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
