The freedom to excel: Belief in free will predicts better academic performance

G. Feldman*, S.P. Chandrashekar, K.F.E. Wong

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Increasing evidence supports the importance of beliefs in predicting positive outcomes in life. We examined the performance implications of the belief in free will as an abstract, philosophical belief that views the self as free from internal and external constraints and capable of choosing and directing one's own path. In Study 1 (N = 116, undergraduates), belief in free will was associated with higher performance on an academic proofreading task. In Study 2 (N = 614, undergraduates), we examined performance in real academic settings, and the belief in free will measured at the beginning of the semester predicted better course and semester grades at the end of the semester. Importantly, we found support for the distinctive contribution of the belief in free will in comparison to well-established predictors of academic performance trait self-control and implicit theories. We conclude that individual differences in the endorsement of the belief in free will are a significant and unique predictor of academic achievement. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)377-383
Number of pages7
JournalPersonality and Individual Differences
Volume90
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2016

Keywords

  • Academic performance
  • Belief in free will
  • Beliefs
  • Task performance
  • SELF-CONTROL
  • IMPLICIT THEORIES
  • WEAKENING BELIEF
  • CHOICE
  • ACHIEVEMENT
  • INCREASES
  • METAANALYSIS
  • PERSONALITY
  • PSYCHOLOGY
  • MOTIVATION

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