Since determinism is a basic assumption in science, and psychology aspires to scientific status, mainstream psychology has tended to support the dismissal of free will or agency.

• Quite possibly you have struggled with this, as William James (1842–1910) did. If science was right, he was deluded for believing in his ability to act as he saw fit and was less of a being, a human being, than his life experience suggested to him. In what follows you should come to appreciate his dilemma.
• In understanding the issues involved, and the arguments that have been put forward, you will be armed intellectually to meet this dilemma. It is expected that you will be equipped to estab­lish for yourself how best to deal with this challenge. You should also be able to recognize when one or the other stance is being affirmed. For instance, you may have passed over my belief in free will in suggesting that you decide for yourself, but will be more sensitized in the future.