Human Agency Impact Analysis

People often wonder how our capacity to make choices and exhibit behaviors is shaped by various elements in our lives, some of which remain beyond our control, such as genetic predispositions. This curiosity raises a fundamental question: To what extent is a person's agency hindered by inherent or external factors? To address this question, we must consider a range of influences, including the evolution of the brain, biochemistry, early traumatic experiences, the frontal cortex, instinct, learning, and working memory. This essay aims to explore these factors, examining how they interact to shape human decision-making, ultimately impacting our sense of agency.

Evolutionary Differences and Cognitive Development

Human and animal brains exhibit both similarities and differences. A notable similarity is the shared structure among mammals. However, a significant distinction lies in the cerebral cortex, where humans possess greater corticalization. This increased corticalization, as highlighted by Revel, is crucial because it enables higher-order thinking and executive functioning, such as information processing. The enhanced capacity for learning and growth associated with increased corticalization grants humans a greater degree of agency, allowing them to transcend natural instincts through learning, memory retention, and advanced cognitive processes.

Biochemical Influences on Behavior

A person's biochemistry plays a pivotal role in influencing their behavior and choices. Biochemistry encompasses neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers in synapses that affect other synaptic cells. Alterations in neurotransmitter levels can lead to behavioral changes, impacting decision-making. For instance, serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation, has been linked to depression when present in lower levels, although the exact nature of this connection remains under investigation, as noted by Revel. Depression can drastically alter a person's behavior, thus affecting their ability to make choices. Consequently, biochemical factors can significantly constrain a person's agency by altering their capacity for rational decision-making.

The Impact of Early Experiences and Frontal Cortex Development

Early traumatic experiences can have lasting effects on an individual's behavior. For example, a person who endures a traumatic event, such as a dog bite during childhood, may develop a persistent fear of dogs. This fear is not a conscious choice but rather a conditioned response, effectively limiting their agency by instilling an involuntary reaction to a specific stimulus. Furthermore, the development of the frontal cortex, a critical region for decision-making, plays a significant role in shaping behavior. The frontal cortex is among the last areas of the brain to mature, meaning that individuals undergoing puberty have an underdeveloped frontal cortex, as discussed by Stuss in 2011. This underdevelopment can hinder decision-making processes and reduce the extent to which behaviors are under conscious control.

Overcoming Instinct and Enhancing Self-Control

In the quest for self-control, individuals must often overcome instinct, which is an innate and biologically driven behavior. Learning to manage these instincts requires experience and the ability to control the desired behavior. This learning process involves storing information in working memory. Once information has been processed through working memory, it is internalized and becomes learned behavior. For instance, exercising self-control might involve choosing to study for an exam instead of succumbing to the desire to socialize with friends. Such choices demonstrate the ability of individuals to exert agency over their instincts, highlighting the interplay between learning and memory in shaping behavior.

Reflections on Personal Agency

In my own life, there have been instances where my agency was restricted. For example, when I suffered a concussion, the decision of when to return to sports was not mine to make; it was determined by medical professionals and my physical health. Despite my eagerness to resume participation, my doctor did not clear me until much later than I had hoped. Conversely, there have been occasions where my behavior allowed me to exercise agency. One such instance was my decision to attend Brigham Young University (BYU). This decision was solely mine, as I had been accepted to every institution I applied to, and I was free to choose without constraints. These experiences underscore how different factors can either limit or enhance the ability to make autonomous decisions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the interplay of various factors, ranging from evolutionary brain development and biochemistry to early experiences and cognitive growth, profoundly shapes human behavior and decision-making. While some factors may limit a person's agency by imposing constraints on their choices, others empower individuals to transcend instinctual responses and exercise self-control. Understanding these influences is crucial for comprehending the complexities of human behavior and the extent to which agency can be cultivated or hindered. Ultimately, the exploration of these factors enriches our understanding of what it means to have agency and the myriad forces that shape our capacity to choose and act.

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