The Role of Belief in Free Will on Social Behavior and Cognition

The existence of free will has been a long-debated philosophical topic. Instead of attempting to answer this complex question, researchers in social psychology and experimental philosophy have recently begun exploring whether people who believe in free will behave and think differently from those who do not. Research has shown a positive relationship between belief in free will and outcomes, including self-efficacy, self-control, and job satisfaction. Manipulations weakening belief in free will have demonstrated consequences, including increased cheating, greater prejudice, and endorsement of more severe punishments. It therefore appears that free will belief has numerous effects on thoughts and behavior. However, there is variability in the success of manipulations in modifying both belief in free will and outcomes. For example, the effects of manipulations in changing belief in free will tend to be small and there have been replication difficulties. Moreover, due to the recency of this work, a limited number of outcomes have been explored to date.

This Research Topic aims to further understand the role that belief in free will plays in social behavior and cognition. We are broadly interested in research exploring the consequences associated with belief in free will. We are particularly interested in research testing the effectiveness of manipulations in modifying both belief in free will and outcomes, especially research examining unexplored consequences associated with free will beliefs. We also encourage replication studies, research conducted on non-Western samples, and studies examining the potential downside of free will beliefs. Taken together, the goal of this Research Topic is to address contemporary issues related to belief in free will research.

We encourage submissions that provide further insight into the role of belief in free will. We welcome submissions that focus on the following themes (not limited to):

• Studies that involve novel manipulations targeting belief in free will
• Research focusing on unexplored behavioral and cognitive outcomes
• Research exploring potential mediators and moderators of the belief in free will – behavior relation
• Research investigating the factors that impact an individual’s level of belief in free will
• Research investigating the negative outcomes associated with believing in free will
• Research investigating the positive outcomes associated with disbelieving in free will
• Replications of past beliefs in free will experimental and correlational studies
• Research beyond WEIRD populations

Submissions could be original research, review articles, perspectives, opinion pieces, and commentaries. We hope that this Research Topic further unpacks how belief in free will has consequences for social behavior and thought.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Registered Report
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Belief In Free Will, Agency, Existential Psychology, Philosophy, Social Psychology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.