Imagine a man who suddenly became a pedophile, A family man. He began prostituting children and harassing his own niece. Obviously, he was convicted and was taken to a rehab program, but he was unable to respond to the treatment, then his arrest was ordered but he requested a brain scan.
The scan indicated a tumor in the region of the brain that is one of the main responsible to regulate our social behavior, including sexual impulses. Then his tumor was removed and his pedophile behavior disappeared. After a while, the behavior returned.
Another scan showed the cancer recurrence. So, the question is: where is free will? This case, like many others, undermine the almost universal belief that we have in free will.
And it disrupts the whole organization of our society - from the legislative to legal, based on the belief that we have 100% of free will and we own our choices. The problem is that your brain decided what you will do about half a second before you feel you are deciding for yourself. Your mind receives the decision from your brain and not the opposite.
But nowadays many neuroscientists dedicate to answer another question: to believe or not to believe in free will? Because to believe or to not believe in free will can change the way your brain works and thus changes your behavior. Two researchers from Minnesota decided to do a test and took a group of volunteers dividing into two groups.
In one group, they did that volunteers read texts that prompted to believe determinism, that is, the disbelief in free will. In the other group, they did the volunteers read texts that prompted the believe in free will. After reading the texts, the two groups did the same test and in this test there was a chance to cheat.
How could they cheat? Pressing a button indicating the correct answers, but they were instructed by researchers to not push the button and solve the problems by themselves. After the test, an analysis was made to see the percentage of cheating, and what happened?
The group that had been led to believe in determinism cheated way more than the group that had been led to believe in free will. But they were aware of that? Not at all.
The text reading influenced the way their brain worked without them being aware of this influence. This study suggests that believing in free will promotes honesty. Other studies suggest that believing in free will helps to promote gratitude, reduces stress, reduces aggression, and increases cooperation.
Students who took a course of neuroscience and were exposed to the debate on free will chose less severe sentences to criminals. So, this study suggests that being exposed to the debate on free will increases compassion. For neuroscience, as far as we know, free will is largely an illusion.
And also known as a social construction, But believing it or joining the discussion positively influences our behavior, helping to build a healthier society. You who have the illusion of free will, subscribe to the Canal da Casa do Saber.
