From Illiniois State U: Some implications of beliefs in altruism, free will, and nonreductionism

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24003585

J Soc Psychol. 2013 Sep-Oct;153(5):598-618.

Some implications of beliefs in altruism, free will, and nonreductionism.

Bergner RM, Ramon A.

Source

Illinois State University, Department of Psychology, 440 DeGarmo Bldg., Normal, IL 61790-4110, USA. rmbergn@ilstu.edu

Abstract

In this research, we explored correlates of individuals' beliefs in altruism, free will, and nonreductionism, as opposed to contrasting beliefs in psychological egoism, determinism, and biological reductionism. Beliefs in altruism, free will, and nonreductionism were associated with heightened a) senses of meaning in life, b) levels of life satisfaction, c) beliefs in morality as a legitimate and important dimension of life, and d) standards of personal moral conduct; they were not associated with levels of social isolation. Implications of these findings are discussed.