Groundbreaking research challenges the assumption that free will believers are more moral, revealing a complex relationship between belief and behavior.
For years, a prevailing theory in psychology suggested that people who believe in free will are more honest, helpful, and moral. This idea sparked concerns: if science eroded this belief, would society descend into immorality? However, groundbreaking research is now challenging this assumption, revealing a far more complex relationship between what we believe about free will and how we actually behave.
The question touches on the very foundations of our legal systems and ethical codes, which often presuppose that individuals are free agents making conscious choices. As research into the neuroscience of volition advances, understanding the real-world consequences of these beliefs has never been more critical 1 4 .
Before delving into the morality link, it's essential to define the concept. Free will belief is generally understood as the conviction that people can make choices free from internal constraints (like their desires or past experiences) or external constraints (like social pressure or rules) 2 .
Philosophers and neuroscientists continue to debate its existence, with some arguing it's an emergent property of our complex brains—the feeling that we draw upon our experiences, goals, and sense of purpose to make decisions 5 .
Others point to famous experiments, like those by Benjamin Libet, which suggest unconscious brain processes precede our conscious decisions, challenging intuitive notions of free will 3 .
The traditional hypothesis was straightforward: if you believe you are free to choose your actions, you also accept responsibility for their consequences. This sense of accountability was thought to be a key motivator for moral behavior.
Several early studies seemed to support this view, indicating that:
This connection sparked significant concern about the societal impact of scientific discoveries that might undermine the public's belief in free will. As one researcher noted, the fear was that if people stopped seeing themselves as "free agents," they would also stop seeing themselves as "blameworthy for their actions," potentially giving in to their "baser instincts" 4 .
In 2019, researchers Damien Crone and Neil Levy published a series of four robust studies that dramatically questioned the established link. Their combined research, involving 921 participants, found no consistent association between an individual's belief in free will and their moral behavior 1 7 .
The studies were designed to carefully measure both free will beliefs (using standardized psychological scales) and actual moral behavior through anonymous tasks with real financial stakes.
The combined research involved 921 participants across four studies, providing strong statistical power to detect even small effects.
| Study | Final Number of Participants | % Female | Average Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 | 210 | 46.19% | 35.63 |
| Study 2 | 220 | 59.55% | 39.56 |
| Study 3 | 294 | 51.70% | 37.89 |
| Study 4 | 197 | 46.19% | 34.07 |
To understand how this research was conducted, let's examine the framework common to these studies.
Participants were recruited online via Amazon's Mechanical Turk, with eligibility restricted to ensure data quality. The combined sample size of 921 gave the researchers strong statistical power to detect even small effects 4 .
Participants first completed questionnaires assessing their fundamental beliefs about free will, determinism, and unpredictability.
Next, they engaged in the behavioral tasks described above. The anonymity of these tasks was crucial, as it allowed participants to act without fear of judgment, revealing their genuine inclinations toward generosity or dishonesty.
Researchers then analyzed the data, looking for correlations between participants' scores on the belief scales and their behavior in the tasks. Would those with strong free will beliefs donate more? Would they cheat less?
| Study | Free Will Belief Measures | Prosocial Measure | Antisocial Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 | FAD-Plus, Free Will Inventory | Dictator Game | Not Measured |
| Study 2 | FAD-Plus, Free Will Inventory | SVO Slider Measure | Dice Game |
| Study 3 | FAD-Plus, Free Will Inventory | SVO Slider Measure | Dice Game |
| Study 4 | FAD-Plus (Free Will subscale) | SVO Slider Measure | Dice Game |
Across all four studies, the result was the same: no significant correlation was found. A person's belief in free will did not predict whether they would be generous or cheat for personal gain 1 4 7 .
No significant correlation found across four studies with 921 participants
As the researchers concluded, "People need not worry about their free will-disbelieving friends or family members being any less generous or honest than the rest of the population" 7 . This null finding suggests that the alarm regarding moral degeneration in a world of increasing scientific determinism is likely overstated.
Researchers use specialized tools to measure beliefs about free will and assess moral behavior in experimental settings.
| Tool Name | Type | Primary Function | Example Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAD-Plus Scale | Questionnaire | Measures belief in free will, determinism, and fatalism | Participants rate agreement with statements like "People have complete free will" on a scale of 1-7 4 . |
| Free Will Inventory (FWI) | Questionnaire | Assesses beliefs about free will, determinism, and mind-body dualism | Gauges complex philosophical intuitions in a standardized way 4 . |
| Social Value Orientation (SVO) Slider | Behavioral Task | Measures a person's preference for distributing resources between themselves and others | Quantifies prosocial, individualistic, or competitive tendencies 4 . |
| Dice Game Task | Behavioral Task | Provides a covert measure of dishonest behavior | Researchers compare self-reported die rolls to statistical probability to estimate cheating 4 7 . |
| Charity Dictator Game | Behavioral Task | Measures altruistic and generous behavior | Participants decide how to split a monetary bonus between themselves and a charity 7 . |
While the four studies found no direct link to general moral behavior, other research suggests that believing in free still plays a meaningful psychological role, particularly in personal growth and well-being.
Belief in free will can be a positive predictor of life satisfaction and flourishing (a sense of purpose and psychological growth) 2 . It can also help individuals pursue personal growth initiatives, even if they have an "avoidant" attachment style that might otherwise hinder such development 8 .
One study found that a strong belief in free will can act as a buffer, allowing people with high attachment avoidance to still engage actively in personal growth. For these individuals, the belief that they are not determined by their past experiences or lack of social support empowers them to change 8 .
The question "Are free will believers nicer people?" appears to have a clear, scientific answer: Not necessarily. The latest evidence suggests that morality is far more complex than a single philosophical belief. Generosity, honesty, and other virtues are likely influenced by a tapestry of factors including upbringing, empathy, situational context, and social norms.
This finding is ultimately liberating. It means that the project of building a moral society does not hinge on maintaining a single, perhaps outdated, belief about human agency. As research continues to unravel the mysteries of the brain and behavior, we can focus on the many proven paths to fostering goodness, regardless of what we believe about the clockwork of the mind.