Photo Credit: Jodie Maoz
The philosophical debate regarding free will continues to our day: Do we choose our thoughts and actions, or is everything about us predetermined (by G-d, fate, genes, childhood experiences, and/or societal influences)? While psychology cannot conclusively determine which side is correct, interesting research has been conducted as to the psychological consequences that flow from our beliefs regarding free will. People who believe that they act under their own volition and agency tend to have higher academic success, better job performance, lower stress levels, and higher life satisfaction than those who believe they do not have free will. This is likely because when we believe we have free will, we have a higher sense of personal control over situations, which leads us to take more personal responsibility for our actions.