Believing in free will has a positive impact on our behavior and decision-making.
Self-determination involves recognizing what we want, generating alternatives, and making choices.
The symbolic self, our identity, influences our decision-making process and overall well-being.
Deep dives
Believing in free will and its effects
Believing in free will, whether it is true or not, is critical for our functioning. Experimental research has shown that convincing someone that determinism is real and free will is false has negative effects on their behavior, such as difficulty in delaying gratification, decreased willingness to help others, and unhealthy choices.
Self-determination and making better choices
Self-determination is the process through which we make choices based on our own wants and needs. It involves recognizing when something is wrong, asking ourselves what we want, generating alternatives, and making a decision. People can always turn themselves around and make better choices, but it may take time and effort.
The symbolic self and the importance of identity
The symbolic self refers to our identity and how it affects our decision-making. It allows us to interface with others in the social world, defend our identity against threats, and regulate our actions. Identity plays a significant role in our decision-making process and can impact our overall well-being.
The role of depression and social media in mental health
Depression may serve as a signal that something is wrong and prompt us to seek solutions. However, the rise in depression and mental health issues among teenagers may have various causes, such as anxiety about the future, fear of missing out, and exposure to negative news on social media. The impact of social media on mental health is a complex issue, and its effects may vary among individuals.
The Importance of Daily Reminders and Self-Determination Theory
One of the main ideas discussed in the podcast is the importance of daily reminders and self-determination theory in achieving personal growth. The speaker reflects on the skepticism towards self-help books and the idea that if they really worked, why would one need to keep buying them? However, the speaker suggests that daily reminders, such as inspirational posters or post-it notes, play a role in maintaining motivation and self-improvement. They discuss self-determination theory, which posits that people have psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and connection. By satisfying these needs and engaging in intentional actions aligned with personal values, individuals can experience growth and happiness.
The Value and Limitations of Self-Help and Personal Development Programs
The podcast also explores the value and limitations of self-help and personal development programs. The speaker shares their personal experience with the S-training and how it made a significant positive impact on their life. They highlight the importance of finding serious and accurate perspectives on how the mind works and how people can make positive changes. However, the podcast also emphasizes the need to be cautious about programs that over-promise or seek to exploit individuals for financial gain. The discussion acknowledges that different approaches work for different people, and what matters most is if a program or practice genuinely improves someone's life, regardless of others' opinions.
It’s become fashionable to argue that free will is a fiction: that we humans are in the thrall of animal urges and unconscious biases and only think that we are choosing freely. In Freely Determined, research psychologist Kennon Sheldon argues that this perception is not only wrong but also dangerous.
Shermer and Sheldon discuss: definitions of free will, determinism, compatibilism, libertarian free will • dualism • reductionism, materialism, predetermination, and epiphenomenalism • Christian List’s three capacities for free will • AI, Star Trek’s Data, sentience and consciousness, ChatGPT, GPT-4 • how what people believe about free will and determinism influences their behaviors • the case for hard determinism • brain injuries, tumors, addictions, and other “determiners” of behavior • emergence • symbolic self • System 1 vs. System 2 thinking • Experiencing Self vs. Remembered Self • subjective well-being and happiness.
Kennon M. Sheldon is professor of psychology at the University of Missouri. He is one of the founding researchers of positive psychology, a fellow of the American Psychological Association, and a recipient of the Templeton Foundation Positive Psychology Prize. He lives in Columbia, Missouri. He is the author of numerous scientific papers and scholarly books, including Stability of Happiness: Theories and Evidence on Whether Happiness Can Change; Designing the Future of Positive Psychology: Taking Stock and Moving Forward; Current Directions in Psychological Science; and Self-Determination Theory in the Clinic. His new book integrates all this research into a popular trade book Freely Determined: What the New Psychology of the Self Teaches Us About How to Live.
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