%0 Journal Article
%T Free Will Implicates Inner Speech via Self-Regulation
%A Alain Morin
%J Open Journal of Philosophy
%P 547-555
%@ 2163-9442
%D 2024
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojpp.2024.143035
%X Free will typically refers to any form of significant control over one’s actions. This definition is remarkably similar to that of self-regulation—the control of one’s behavior, emotions, and thoughts in pursuit of long-term goals. Indeed, several scholars have proposed that the latter constitutes the psychological equivalent of the former. A large body of empirical work demonstrates that both covert (inner) and overt (private) forms of self-directed speech are causally associated with self-regulatory outcomes such as action planning, problem-solving, emotion regulation, attention, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and self-reflection. It thus seems logical to propose that free will too recruits self-directed speech. This argument is explored by reviewing the relevant literature pertaining to free will, self-regulation, and inner/private speech. More specifically, free will is defined and contrasted with self-regulation, whose definition ends up being remarkably similar. Examples of typical research on private and inner speech are presented and show a key involvement of self-directed speech in self-regulation. The notion that free will depends on inner speech is further explored based on Wiley’s work (2009). One outstanding implication is that individual differences in self-directed speech use could be linked to different levels of free will. That is, people using inner/private speech more efficiently could exhibit freer will, and vice-versa.
%K Free Will
%K Self-Regulation
%K Inner Speech
%K Private Speech
%K Self-Directed Speech
%K Individual Differences
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=133995