Too many choices? The limits of free will

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Think back to the last big decision you made. How much was that choice influenced by factors outside of your control - external circumstances, other people, maybe even your genes - and how much of it was truly your own? 

For centuries scientists and philosophers have debated the existence of free will. Some argue that it's an illusion, while others contend that it exists but in a limited form: we feel like we're making choices, but in many ways these choices are constrained. 

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Though science might suggest otherwise, introspection tells us that we have free will. Otherwise, why would we bother making New Years resolutions year after year? In addition to giving us a sense of control over our outcomes, research suggests that the belief in free will makes us behave more ethically.  In a recent study, when participants were led to believe that free will did not exist, they were more likely to cheat on a test, presumably because they felt less personally accountable for their immoral behavior. Similarly, in the classic Milgram experiment, participants were more likely to deliver strong electric shocks to an innocent victim when the experimenter told them they wouldn't be responsible for their actions. And the sense of anonymity and inhibition that comes from being "lost" in a crowd or mob can also lead to destructive behavior (see above - you can get away with it when you're three). Clearly we need to have some sense of personal accountability for society to function. But assuming free will is always operating can have drawbacks... 
 




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