This paper documents ways in which psychology can contribute to policy discussions of freedom. Some of the more important psychological variables that are relevant to the degree to which persons are free include ability to handle unwanted experiences (fear, anxiety, etc.) and control personality processes that might undermine choice, intensity of conflicting motives and needs, degree of flexibility, and dependency. Further research is encouraged by indicating where existing disagreements between theories and present lack of research limit our knowledge about personal freedom.
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