Self-Perception and Belief Systems: The Influence of Self-Esteem and Control on Free Will and Fatalism

Self-esteem and locus of control are two psychological constructs closely linked to beliefs in free will and fatalism. Nevertheless, the connection among them remains mostly ignored. This study analyzed the complex interconnections among self-esteem, locus of control, and their collective impact on beliefs in free will and fatalism. This study was conducted in Chinese university communities, utilizing a substantial sample of 338 participants, of whom 128 completed longitudinal measurements after 4 to 8 weeks. We developed models to verify the mediated interactions among the variables utilizing cross-sectional and two-wave half-longitudinal approaches. The study identified that self-esteem influences belief formation through locus of control, and subsequently examined specific belief-formation patterns across varying self-esteem levels, offering a more refined comprehension of these psychological processes. The findings demonstrated that those with higher self-esteem and a conviction in their ability to influence life events (internal locus of control) are more likely to strongly embrace the belief in free will. Individuals exhibiting gradually lower self-esteem and a pronounced sense of external control are more inclined to embrace the belief in fatalism. This discovery deepens our understanding of the relationship between self-perception and perceived control in relation to these beliefs, indicating that self-evaluation, by affecting one's subjective evaluation of circumstances, may shape an individual's conceptualization of belief.