This summer I was enrolled in Intro to Psychology. I have to admit, it was fascinating and somewhat disturbing to me how much evidence supported behaviorism, and therefore the absence of free-will in humanity.
After all, if every feeling, thought, and action can be traced back to some cause, no one is free to choose anything.
Of course, I have always strongly believed in each person's freedom to decide what they will do with their life. This leaves me in a dilemma. On one hand, as many other psychologists have chosen to point out, the behaviorists could be wrong. On the other hand, I have personally seen strong indications of behaviorism in my own life. Besides, when I make mistakes, it's easier to simply assume I have no choice in the matter.
After I examined a satisfactory number of opinions on the subject, I concluded that behaviorists are wrong, but only partially. For many of us, free-will is virtually non-existent. This is not because we can't choose, but because we won't. We are enslaved to our own ideas of freedom.
What is freedom to you?
Is it being free to do what you can, just because you can? Go ahead and worship your will.
Is it being free to do what you want? Go ahead and worship your desires.
No matter what you think freedom is, your one-time choice to place a certain freedom above all others determines your future behavior, effectively nullifying your will. I have seen countless people devote all their time to the pursuit of happiness, but when something gets in their way, they end up miserable just because they couldn't let go and find freedom elsewhere.
When people spend all their time thinking about how much they love playing video games, is it any wonder they have so much trouble finishing their homework? In the moment of temptation, when they must decide between productivity and their games, "behaviorism" takes effect. Unless there is some dire consequence, they will "choose" the screen. They have trained themselves that way, and cannot choose differently.
Romans 12:2 says "be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
The only way a person can bring about change in themselves is by reflecting on it, preparing for it, and choosing to work on it long before the crucial moment. It's all about habit. Habits take a while to make or break, but once they're there, they will stick. The most important thing is nurturing habits that will free us rather than restrain us.
Please note that when I compare bad habits to slavery, I in no way mean to minimize real instances of human trafficking in the US. I will say, however, that I firmly believe people's enslavement to their desires is exactly what leads to much bigger issues.
The thing is, you're going to end up serving somebody. So many people try to serve a limited idea of freedom, and end up in chains. When they serve themselves and their desires, they end up dead in the hands of a ruthless taskmaster, because their wants can never be fulfilled. When they try to serve an ideal, such as social justice or personal perfection, they end up burnt out and friendless, because rules and legislation leave no room for relationships.
So ask yourself, how do you define freedom? What habits restrain you, and which ones are constructive and liberating? For me, I can only be free when I let go and surrender to the God who created me. He is the only guide who will not lead me astray, and serving him is the only way to truly find freedom.
