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We are each dealt a particular biology, psychological history, and current social environment. From these parts emerges a new entity—the Psyche—with attributes that did not exist before. Even the neuron, as remarkable and complex a structure as it is, does not possess consciousness. Experiential phenomena emerge from the activities of many neurons. Opinions, actions and will are properties of the Psyche but do not exist within any of its component parts. Some individuals have good cognitive abilities and are able to predict the likely outcome of making one choice versus another. Nevertheless, they may knowingly choose a less rewarding alternative over a more rewarding one. The technical term for this perverse tendency is impulsivity.
Dependence occurs when the individual becomes unable to control incentive use despite its obvious destructive consequences. There may be sincere attempts to quit or cut down; nevertheless the individual predictably relapses and encounters again the scolding voice of self and others: “Don’t you have any willpower?”
Willpower
Free will refers to the idea that we have the ability to influence our actions intentionally. The contrasting view, Determinism, holds that we actually have no free will because all of our decisions and actions are completely determined by cause-and-effect principles, though they may be unknowable to us; the experience that we have free will is merely an illusion.
Unlike turkeys, whose behavior is determined by specific aspects of their immediate environment, some humans are able to set long-range goals, develop plans, and make adjustments to their plan until their goal is achieved. They appear to have an intentional influence over the course of their life. Advocates of freewill argue that a new phenomenon emerged with human cognition, which makes us fundamentally different from turkeys. Alternatively, determinists argue that it may just seem that way because we are so much more complex than turkeys.
We cannot resolve the free will debate by simply asking people whether they intended to do something or not, because we cannot be sure whether the intention led to the behavior or the behavior led to the experience of intention. The subjective experience of free will is not evidence for its existence. We can never be sure that A causes B, as there could always be a third variable C that causes both of them. While it seems that our intentions cause our actions, there may be causes of which we are unaware that produce both of them. In fact, there is evidence that even before we are aware of the intention to perform an action, the neural precursors of the action have already occurred.
There is a middle position: Libertarianism. This view holds that human behavior is determined by many causes, including biological factors, psychological conditioning, and current social pressures, but this very causality provides the opportunity for us to have an intentional influence on how things play out. The more we discover about the cause-and-effect relationships, the more power we have to impose our will upon the world. Even if willful control of our immediate behavior is an illusion, you can use your appreciation of cause-and-effect relationships to intentionally change the course of your life.
Willpower—overriding the path of least resistance to follow your intended path—is taxing. You cannot intentionally guide behavior every moment, because you often need to focus on other things. Following the path of least resistance is often a good thing because it frees up cognitive resources; the default path is harmful when it leads to relapse. Acting as intended at those moment when the cognitive resources required to exercise will are otherwise occupied requires training. Like a martial artist you can rehearse the intended coping responses so you can perform them automatically during stressful moments.
Rational processing is a gift, but it is important to appreciate when it is available, and what it can and cannot do:
• Rational processing can produce rapid change (e.g., “I used to believe in the tooth fairy, but then I realized that it was my mother and since then have never relapsed to the earlier view.”) This is contrasted with the many repetitions required to change a habit.
• Rational processing can influence future behavior through a variety of means including: pre-commitment, rehearsal of desired performance, or modification of environments.
• Rational processing is only possible when there is a surplus of cognitive resources. It is not available when cognitive resources are otherwise occupied by complex cognitive demands, strong emotional states, or diminished by fatigue or intoxication.
• Rational processing is too slow to influence behavior in real-time. Performance, to be smooth and responsive to a changing world, requires a rapid, holistic processing. Typically when you try to consciously control ongoing behavior, you disrupt it.
Procedural Skills to Exercise Will
Operating the bio-psycho-social system you inhabit is a bit like driving a car. To operate the motor vehicle, you must appreciate that pressing the accelerator makes it go faster, turning the wheel steers it, etc. Once you learn how it works, it becomes a matter of practice with some guidance from dad or a driving instructor to achieve competence.
Those who live in cold climates are forced to develop additional skills to cope with icy roads. While it seems unfair that northerners have an extra burden to bear, fairness is irrelevant. Northerners and southerners must each cope with the reality they are presented. As partial compensation for the additional demands, northerners get to be better drivers in icy conditions.
Your relationship with the incentive has created dangers with which you must now cope. Success depends upon your ability to respond competently to a particular set of challenges. You are bound to encounter certain high risk situations again and again. Each one is an opportunity to practice responding as intended. I suggest to my clients they look at these crises as sparring partners that are part of their training. The martial artist may not like receiving pain from his sparring partners, but accepts it as part of the price to achieve his goal. Of course, it does not matter whether you like it or not; you are bound to encounter high risk situations, and you will either adhere to your commitments and make yourself stronger or follow the path of least resistance, thereby causing yourself and others unnecessary suffering.
Mindful responding during a crisis is rare because most people don’t recognize they are in a crisis until it’s too late. You will have to recognize that you are at risk of relapse and awaken yourself so you can perform intentionally. Be aware that at first it will be quite difficult to execute the coping tactic during a crisis, because the cognitive resources required to behave mindfully will be occupied by whatever is going on at this high risk moment. With practice, the intended response becomes easier to perform.