Jun 16, 2023 07:12 PM
https://psyche.co/ideas/the-three-reason...-free-will
EXCERPT: . . . There are three main reasons why I consider belief in free will to be important and beneficial. The first is that feeling autonomous and self-determined – that you have free will – is a basic psychological need, and satisfying this need is critical for your mental health. This has been shown by decades of research in self-determination theory concerning the causes and sources of human wellness.
Since its development in the 1970s, a key distinction made in self-determination theory is between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation exists when we are enjoying what we are doing, when the doing is its own reward. For me, this might mean trying to learn a new song on the piano, trying to improve my tennis game, or trying to reach a beautiful mountain lake with my camera. In all these cases, I am making choices, learning new things, applying my skills, and having a fun time in the process.
If I started taking photos mainly because I am being paid to do so, then my intrinsic motivation and enjoyment would likely wane
In contrast, extrinsic motivation exists when we are mainly trying to earn money or other external rewards, such as trying to please or impress others, or we’re just gutting it out, ‘doing what we have to’. In these situations, we don’t really feel like it’s ‘us’ choosing what we do – instead, we feel that the situation is causing our behaviour. In a way, we have momentarily accepted determinism.
Hundreds of studies show that intrinsic motivation, compared with extrinsic motivation, produces better performance and creativity, more persistence and energy, and greater satisfaction and fulfilment. These studies also show that intrinsic motivation can be fragile – easily undermined when external rewards become too salient, or when we feel too controlled by what others think. For example, if I started taking photos mainly because I am being paid to do so, or because I want to impress my friends on social media, then my intrinsic motivation and enjoyment would likely wane.
Returning to the question of free will: if your intrinsic motivation (ie, your feeling of doing things because you chose and enjoyed them) were replaced by a feeling that you are only a choiceless machine driven by forces you cannot control, this would be bad for you. Losing your sense of free will, in this sense, might make your life much less enjoyable and interesting. Because of this, I encourage you to try to find, follow and develop your intrinsic motivations as much as possible... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPT: . . . There are three main reasons why I consider belief in free will to be important and beneficial. The first is that feeling autonomous and self-determined – that you have free will – is a basic psychological need, and satisfying this need is critical for your mental health. This has been shown by decades of research in self-determination theory concerning the causes and sources of human wellness.
Since its development in the 1970s, a key distinction made in self-determination theory is between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation exists when we are enjoying what we are doing, when the doing is its own reward. For me, this might mean trying to learn a new song on the piano, trying to improve my tennis game, or trying to reach a beautiful mountain lake with my camera. In all these cases, I am making choices, learning new things, applying my skills, and having a fun time in the process.
If I started taking photos mainly because I am being paid to do so, then my intrinsic motivation and enjoyment would likely wane
In contrast, extrinsic motivation exists when we are mainly trying to earn money or other external rewards, such as trying to please or impress others, or we’re just gutting it out, ‘doing what we have to’. In these situations, we don’t really feel like it’s ‘us’ choosing what we do – instead, we feel that the situation is causing our behaviour. In a way, we have momentarily accepted determinism.
Hundreds of studies show that intrinsic motivation, compared with extrinsic motivation, produces better performance and creativity, more persistence and energy, and greater satisfaction and fulfilment. These studies also show that intrinsic motivation can be fragile – easily undermined when external rewards become too salient, or when we feel too controlled by what others think. For example, if I started taking photos mainly because I am being paid to do so, or because I want to impress my friends on social media, then my intrinsic motivation and enjoyment would likely wane.
Returning to the question of free will: if your intrinsic motivation (ie, your feeling of doing things because you chose and enjoyed them) were replaced by a feeling that you are only a choiceless machine driven by forces you cannot control, this would be bad for you. Losing your sense of free will, in this sense, might make your life much less enjoyable and interesting. Because of this, I encourage you to try to find, follow and develop your intrinsic motivations as much as possible... (MORE - missing details)
