研究人员通过一系列实验和全球调查发现，当人们接受自由意志是幻觉这一观点时，他们对自己和他人的过错会表现出更高的宽容度。[1]在第一项实验中，260名参与者在接触到自由意志不存在的论证后，对自己伤害他人的行为展现出明显更高的自我宽恕。[1]第二项实验涉及262名参与者，他们在读到相同论证后，对伤害自己的人表现出更多宽恕，仇恨程度也显著降低。[1]
这项发表在《英国社会心理学杂志》上的新研究还通过全球调查得到了进一步验证。[1]该调查覆盖44个国家、包含8,917名参与者，结果显示更强的自由意志信念与对日常道德过错更严厉的处罚态度相关联。[1]值得注意的是，研究发现接纳自由意志不存在的观点并未削弱参与者的问责感——他们仍然认同责任和过错的存在，只是减少了指责行为中的情绪强度。[1]
Researchers led by Aaron Walton and Brock Bastian have found that accepting the view that free will does not exist can decrease hatred and shame while increasing forgiveness, according to studies published in the British Journal of Social Psychology.[1]
In the first experiment, 260 participants who read arguments against the existence of free will demonstrated significantly greater self-forgiveness for their own harmful actions.[1] A second experiment with 262 participants exposed to the same arguments showed increased forgiveness toward people who had harmed them, with notably reduced levels of hatred.[1] Importantly, the researchers found that participants' sense of accountability remained intact; they continued to acknowledge responsibility and fault, but experienced reduced emotional intensity in blame.[1]
A global survey spanning 44 countries and involving 8,917 people reinforced these findings, revealing that stronger beliefs in free will correlate with harsher attitudes toward everyday moral transgressions.[1] The research demonstrates that reconsidering assumptions about free will may offer a pathway to greater compassion for both oneself and others without compromising moral responsibility.[1]
