The Psychology of Freedom - Acceptance and Power

We have an individual who lives in “bad faith” – they deny their own freedom, because the freedom of choice creates anxiety through its inevitable responsibility. It is worth viewing this individual from an evolutionary psychology perspective, a neurological perspective and a mental health perspective.

Firstly, our evolution as it relates to freedom. The type of freedom we have today, in the democratic countries is a new phenomenon, only truly being experienced for maybe eighty-years…that is one person’s lifetime. We have freedom like never before – freedom over food, hobbies, religion, education, work, location etc. None of these things, for the history of mankind, have ever truly been considered a freedom. In other words, we haven’t evolved to be able to comprehend and manage such a large amount of freedom; of choices. We have always had to perform a certain role, in a certain place, and eat the certain thing that is available, or we will die, as well as probably some of those around us. The choice between doing one thing or dying, isn’t really a choice…in fact, it may be the definition of ‘no choice’.

Anxiety is panic. Our brain is set up in such a way that a perceived threat prepares us for response. This is the same as panic. In fact, this is panic. Our subcortical structures attempt to take over, ridding us of the ability to think rationally with our cortical brain, and preparing us for action. One’s responsibility, in antiquity, was simply to keep themselves, and those around them alive – they did not have freedom over food, for example, so they were not responsible for the food-related health. Anything that threatened their life, or the life of those around them – such as a predator – would cause anxiety; cause the subcortical structures to “take control” and prepare them. However, today we have unfathomably more freedoms, therefore unfathomably more responsibilities, and therefore anxiety is prevalent. Our brain is not set up for a context of unlimited freedom.

To live in bad faith, is to deny this freedom. However, paradoxically, the denial of our individual freedom, does not free us from anxiety. Perhaps, one thinks it will, but it only makes the anxiety worse. Most likely because it is not true; we can say we are not free to choose what to eat and that it is the governments responsibility to improve healthful choices, but we are lying to ourselves, which will always result in poor mental health. However, equally paradoxically, to accept our freedom and, therefore, our responsibility can reduce the anxiety that is initially brought. To accept our freedom allows us to live in a such a way that we know can alter our choices in order to alter our lives. This gives us incredible power over ourselves; the issues we face can be changed by choosing different actions. To deny freedom and abdicate responsibility is to live in such a way that we see our lives as being in the hands of everyone else. Whereas, to accept our freedom and responsibility, is to live in such a way that we see our lives as being purely within our own hands. This inevitably brings anxiety, but it is surely a worthy trade, for such power.