Free Will
Research indicates that much of our makeup is a function of forces out of our immediate control, whether genetic or experiential. Does this mean our fate is not in our hands? In today's episode, we'll look at how we might frame this issue with regard to what it means to our personal destinies.
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Free Will
Do you believe in destiny? What are the factors that determine our fates? We hear a lot of talk about privilege and discrimination against people with unfair advantages of good looks, natural talent and drive, family resources whether material or via connections or a loving supportive environment, or unfair disadvantages such as tragedy, abuse, scarcity, physical and mental maladies, or bigotry against the outgroup along any number of demographic lines.
Examples of those who come from the former category who end up miserable or the latter category living their dreams are legion. What's going on with all of this? Are our fates our own or are they determined by externalities beyond our control? A classic debate in Psychology is nature versus nurture. The opinions vary. Mounting evidence has clarified some of the facts around the issue.
In a much-cited 2000 article in the journal Current Directions and Psychological Science entitled Three Laws of Behavior Genetics and What They Mean, Eric Turkheimer provided guidance that was controversial but has largely withstood the test of over two decades of further research and refinement. His assertions pertained to the questions I just asked. His first law is, “All human behavioral traits are heritable.” What does that mean? What is a behavioral trait?
Most often, studies define the term as a stable property of a person that can be measured by standardized psychological tests. Other researchers take the approach of making observations of target groups and control groups over time and noting pertinent variances. Heritability is the proportion of variance in a trait that correlates with genetic differences. The findings in such studies often centered around identical or fraternal twins, some of whom are raised in the same homes and others separated at birth or adopted siblings raised in the same environment but sharing no familial genetics all point to a similar conclusion.
Most of our behavioral characteristics are reflected in the genetic code of our DNA. Though when Turkheimer says all, he may be overstating the matter. It appears that it's not by much. There are plenty of aspects of our personality, habits, outlook, disposition, and quirks that were bequeathed at birth. Does this mean our fates are sealed and that what happened in our lives is simply a function of the circumstances that make up our DNA?
Studies can only reveal the correlation between traits and genes, not a causation. For more on this, let's keep going. Turkheimer's second law is, “The effect of being raised in the same family is smaller than the effect of the genes.” As he may have overstated the first law by claiming all behavioral traits, Turkheimer may have understated his second law by claiming them to be smaller.
While environmental influences are in play as they relate to our behaviors, studies show them to be surprisingly small. For instance, IQ shows familial correlation during childhood, but as adults, the effect disappears. Broad cultural ideals certainly have impacts such as whether children are raised in Christian, Muslim, or non-religious households. Environmental factors determine the languages we speak and the expectations we have in life, the levels of education to which we’re exposed, and our moral compasses.
Free Will: While environmental influences are in play as they relate to our behaviors, studies show them to be surprisingly small.
Trauma and tragedy can have major effects as well, but when it comes to behavioral traits, parenting, living conditions, and other of the most significant environmental factors do not account for variance in the way our genetics do. Again, does this mean our fates are mostly decided before we're born? Turkheimer's third law is, “A substantial portion of the variation in complex human behavioral traits is not accounted for by the effects of genes or families.” This law begins to answer our original question.
The first law states the importance of our genes in our behavior. Subsequent studies confirm this to perhaps be half of the equation as it relates to the factors that drive human behavior. The second law reveals the relative insignificance of shared familial circumstances. Some studies reveal zero impact, while others reveal marginal impact. That leaves maybe half of the equation unanswered.
The rest of the picture is filled in with factors that are unique to each person. Nobody walks in our shoes. Even identical twins are not identical. They can't walk in one another's shoes. The experiences they have and the decisions they make introduce factors that drive variance in their behavioral traits. Does this mean that we, with the force of our willpower, are in charge of our fates? Not necessarily.
Parents may be surprisingly powerless as it relates to the personalities of their children, but evidence suggests children's peers are not, so external environmental factors remain in the mix. Plus, there's a difference between manifesting a unique set of behavioral characteristics and retaining conscious choices to change them. How does our genetic programming work exactly to shape our destinies?
This is an area we have yet to understand in great detail. In the years since Turkheimer’s three laws, researchers James Lee and Christopher Chabris suggested a fourth law of behavioral genetics. A typical human behavioral trait is associated with many genetic variants. Each of which accounts for a very small percentage of the behavioral variability. That's a lot of fancy words, but what I take it to mean is we can't match specific genes to specific behavioral traits. The picture is far more complicated than that.
The answers here aren't simple and clear. As the science of human nature advances, we'll see more light shed on the questions we've been considering now. In the meantime, what are we to make of it? What is the best mindset as it relates to maximizing our personal power, our agency, in our lives? As the late great Neil Peart wrote in his song of the same title, “I will choose free will.” As a matter of fact, I think the song is so good and the lyrics are so insightful. It's worth reading at least a snippet.
“A planet of playthings. We dance on the strings. Of powers, we cannot perceive. The stars aren’t aligned or the gods are malign. Blame is better to give than receive. You can choose a ready guide. In some celestial voice. If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill. I will choose a path that’s clear. I will choose free will.”
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
Free will exists in some ways. That's clear enough. The degree of free will we have over the long run is where the picture blur. I'm reminded of the days when I used to train people with their communication skills. We recognized the reality that in any conversation, it takes two to tango. The quality of the exchange is contributed to by both parties. However, the most powerful mindset is when we take 100% responsibility for the outcome ourselves.
When we don't take the perhaps legitimate yet nevertheless disempowering path that puts our failure to communicate in any way on the other person, we instead make it our business to understand where our counterpart is coming from. We make sure we're clear about their perceptions, assumptions, and motivations. We only know we're right when the other person tells us so. That is something we can control.
As we do this, we function as a high-quality thought partner. We may not reach an agreement, but the respect we show the other person when we invest the time and energy to hear and understand pays tangible dividends. There's an analogous principle here. When we assume control of our fates, we may not ever discern the degree to which we are deceived, but we end up with more power anyway. We make adjustments we might otherwise ignore. We remain open to inputs to which we might otherwise have been tone-deaf.
Also, we take responsibility for outcomes that affect our goals and plans, which affect our attitudes and actions, which affect our behaviors and decisions, which affect our faiths. I don't know what continued research will reveal about the deeper human makeup. I don't know what technology will emerge to change the game. I'm excited to witness these revelations. In the meantime, I believe we're all better off when we assume control of our own destinies.
We're all better off when we assume control of our own destinies.
I opened with a basic question, “Do we control our destinies?” There's reason to think we don't do as much as we'd like. I suppose what I'd like to leave you with is this. I call it BS. I say we have free will. I say our futures are what we decide to make them. If you buy that, it only leaves one more question. What will you make yours? Whatever you're thinking now, my hope for you is that it manifests your full agency and all of the amazing personal power you possibly can.
You are a slave to no one and no thing. You don't have addictions. Nothing can hold power over you. You aren't exploited. You make your decisions with open eyes, ears, and mind. You manifest all the things that you and only you can bring to this world and you put them to service to benefit other people. This fills you with such a strong sense of purpose that nothing can hold you back, not for long anyway. Nobody can do any of this for us. It's always up to us. Our fate and destiny is ours to determine. Let's go.