Survey Results

Personal identity: further-fact view, psychological view, or biological view?


1615 respondents
Login to view or update your response to this question.

What the percentages mean: "Accept or lean toward P: 50% (40%)" means that 50% of respondents endorsed this answer inclusively (including multiple-answer endorsements) and 40% endorsed this answer exclusively (excluding multiple-answer endorsements).

These results should not be used for comparison to 2009 results due to different populations and parameters. For meaningful longitudinal comparisons, see the longitudinal analysis section.

Accept or lean towards:
biological view
19.07% (15.60%)
Reject or lean against:
biological view
0.99% (0.00%)
Accept or lean towards:
psychological view
43.65% (39.44%)
Reject or lean against:
psychological view
0.56% (0.00%)
Accept or lean towards:
further-fact view
14.86% (13.37%)
Reject or lean against:
further-fact view
1.98% (0.00%)
Accept a combination of views
5.02%
Accept an alternative view
6.25%
The question is too unclear to answer
4.02%
There is no fact of the matter
5.57%
Agnostic/undecided
9.78%
Other
0.93%
N = 1615, excluding skipped & insufficiently familiar (170 respondents)
Alternative Views

151 target respondents indicated that they accept or lean toward an alternative view. The words used in their responses cluster as follows. These results are not filtered by AOS, region, etc.

  • NARR (14): narrative (13) narrativity (1)
  • SOCI (10): social (8) social-conceptual (1) socially-oriented (1)
  • CONT (8): continuity (5) continuous (1) contingently (1) contextualism (1)
  • PHEN (6): phenomenological (3) phenomenal (2) phenomenology (1)
  • PARF (6): parfit (5) parfitian (1)
  • RELA (6): relational (3) relative (1) relata (1) relation (1)
  • BRAI (5): brain (4) brain-based (1)
  • SELF (5): self (3) self-consciousness (1) self-constituting (1)
  • SOUL (5): soul (5)
  • BOTH (4): both (4)
  • PLUR (4): pluralism (3) pluralistic (1)
  • MATT (4): matter (4)

Longitudinal comparison to 2009 survey

Geographic filters do not apply to this section.
Option 2009 2020 Change Swing
Option
Accept or lean towards: biological view 16.86% 15.28%  1.58 -1.97
2009 16.86%
2020 15.28%
Change  1.58
Swing -1.97
Accept or lean towards: psychological view 33.62% 37.04%  3.42  3.03
2009 33.62%
2020 37.04%
Change  3.42
Swing  3.03
Accept or lean towards: further-fact view 12.24% 11.57%  0.67 -1.06
2009 12.24%
2020 11.57%
Change  0.67
Swing -1.06
Accept a combination of views 10.31% 4.01%  6.30
2009 10.31%
2020 4.01%
Change  6.30
Accept an alternative view 3.87% 3.7%  0.17
2009 3.87%
2020 3.7%
Change  0.17
The question is too unclear to answer 2.79% 3.24%  0.45
2009 2.79%
2020 3.24%
Change  0.45
There is no fact of the matter 4.19% 5.71%  1.52
2009 4.19%
2020 5.71%
Change  1.52
Insufficiently familiar with the issue 6.23% 6.33%  0.10
2009 6.23%
2020 6.33%
Change  0.10
Agnostic/undecided 8.49% 10.96%  2.47
2009 8.49%
2020 10.96%
Change  2.47
Skipped 0.86% 1.39%  0.53
2009 0.86%
2020 1.39%
Change  0.53
Other 0.54% 0.77%  0.23
2009 0.54%
2020 0.77%
Change  0.23
N (2020) = 648
N (2009) = 931
Weighted values
Option 2009 2020 Change
Biological view 27.97 27.31 0.66
Psychological view 42.55 38.37 4.18
Further-fact view 24.96 24.41 0.55

Strongest correlations with main questions (target population)

r: 0.37
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 88 63
Reject 127 468
n: 746
p < 0.0001
r: 0.36
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 175 200
Reject 59 299
n: 733
p < 0.0001
r: 0.36
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 60 68
Reject 57 412
n: 597
p < 0.0001
r: 0.34
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 73 63
Reject 116 476
n: 728
p < 0.0001
r: 0.34
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 351 238
Reject 132 397
n: 1118
p < 0.0001
r: -0.34
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 58 140
Reject 543 303
n: 1044
p < 0.0001
r: -0.32
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 22 271
Reject 96 211
n: 600
p < 0.0001
r: 0.32
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 399 28
Reject 295 108
n: 830
p < 0.0001
r: -0.31
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 65 156
Reject 643 354
n: 1218
p < 0.0001
r: -0.29
Personal identity: biological view Accept Reject
Accept 59 204
Reject 424 431
n: 1118
p < 0.0001
r: -0.29
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 93 60
Reject 597 75
n: 825
p < 0.0001
r: -0.29
Personal identity: biological view Accept Reject
Accept 24 166
Reject 210 333
n: 733
p < 0.0001
r: 0.27
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 96 124
Reject 160 880
n: 1260
p < 0.0001
r: 0.27
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 128 66
Reject 297 593
n: 1084
p < 0.0001
r: 0.27
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 96 136
Reject 158 873
n: 1263
p < 0.0001
r: -0.26
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 27 110
Reject 251 343
n: 731
p < 0.0001
r: 0.24
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 215 192
Reject 119 279
n: 805
p < 0.0001
r: -0.23
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 62 129
Reject 116 97
n: 404
p < 0.0001
r: -0.23
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 88 575
Reject 171 440
n: 1274
p < 0.0001
r: -0.23
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 179 173
Reject 239 103
n: 694
p < 0.0001
r: 0.22
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 174 207
Reject 106 248
n: 735
p < 0.0001
r: 0.22
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 105 25
Reject 307 251
n: 688
p < 0.0001
r: -0.22
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 48 276
Reject 101 220
n: 645
p < 0.0001
r: 0.22
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 83 108
Reject 47 166
n: 404
p < 0.0001
r: -0.21
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 70 295
Reject 148 238
n: 751
p < 0.0001
r: -0.21
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 91 581
Reject 166 432
n: 1270
p < 0.0001
r: 0.21
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 52 75
Reject 139 409
n: 675
p < 0.0001
r: 0.21
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 149 61
Reject 446 512
n: 1168
p < 0.0001
r: 0.21
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 92 122
Reject 227 690
n: 1131
p < 0.0001
r: -0.21
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 192 398
Reject 239 264
n: 1093
p < 0.0001
r: -0.21
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 77 60
Reject 456 153
n: 746
p < 0.0001
r: 0.21
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 83 211
Reject 46 258
n: 598
p < 0.0001
r: 0.2
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 369 182
Reject 235 266
n: 1052
p < 0.0001
r: -0.2
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 124 221
Reject 146 156
n: 647
p < 0.0001
r: 0.2
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 291 299
Reject 162 340
n: 1092
p < 0.0001
r: -0.2
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 76 303
Reject 116 237
n: 732
p < 0.0001
r: 0.19
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 69 36
Reject 165 241
n: 511
p < 0.0001
r: 0.19
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 135 80
Reject 368 551
n: 1134
p < 0.0001
r: 0.19
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 53 50
Reject 137 269
n: 509
p < 0.0001
r: -0.19
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 66 114
Reject 84 81
n: 345
p: 0.0005
r: 0.18
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 160 170
Reject 106 217
n: 653
p < 0.0001
r: 0.18
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 29 105
Reject 49 471
n: 654
p < 0.0001
r: -0.18
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 29 307
Reject 78 265
n: 679
p < 0.0001
r: -0.18
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 73 107
Reject 512 352
n: 1044
p < 0.0001
r: 0.18
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 138 207
Reject 87 215
n: 647
p < 0.0001
r: 0.18
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 63 53
Reject 178 329
n: 623
p < 0.0001
r: 0.18
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 49 78
Reject 100 412
n: 639
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 426 214
Reject 285 302
n: 1227
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 101 252
Reject 51 290
n: 694
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 474 191
Reject 343 269
n: 1277
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 38 91
Reject 68 477
n: 674
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 81 76
Reject 166 460
n: 783
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 75 118
Reject 458 381
n: 1032
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 117 115
Reject 694 340
n: 1266
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 188 170
Reject 133 210
n: 701
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 15 112
Reject 113 355
n: 595
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 188 44
Reject 660 348
n: 1240
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 90 203
Reject 111 185
n: 589
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 39 113
Reject 226 374
n: 752
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 19 85
Reject 141 264
n: 509
p: 0.0002
r: -0.16
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 84 264
Reject 109 222
n: 679
p < 0.0001
r: -0.16
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 33 83
Reject 199 216
n: 531
p: 0.0002
r: -0.16
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 23 96
Reject 200 322
n: 641
p < 0.0001
r: -0.16
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 53 141
Reject 397 492
n: 1083
p < 0.0001
r: 0.16
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 104 264
Reject 63 325
n: 756
p < 0.0001
r: 0.16
Personal identity: biological view Accept Reject
Accept 58 56
Reject 120 170
n: 404
p: 0.0011
r: -0.16
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 14 115
Reject 136 422
n: 687
p < 0.0001
r: -0.16
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 279 340
Reject 323 237
n: 1179
p < 0.0001
r: 0.16
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 92 100
Reject 229 606
n: 1027
p < 0.0001
r: 0.16
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 263 360
Reject 149 408
n: 1180
p < 0.0001
r: 0.16
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 28 87
Reject 76 338
n: 529
p: 0.0003
r: -0.16
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 95 207
Reject 106 176
n: 584
p: 0.0002
r: -0.16
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 39 221
Reject 73 203
n: 536
p: 0.0003
r: -0.16
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 43 112
Reject 290 357
n: 802
p < 0.0001
r: 0.15
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 181 431
Reject 112 458
n: 1182
p < 0.0001
r: 0.15
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 45 79
Reject 82 338
n: 544
p: 0.0003
r: -0.15
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 98 284
Reject 152 254
n: 788
p < 0.0001
r: -0.15
Personal identity: biological view Accept Reject
Accept 113 84
Reject 397 166
n: 760
p < 0.0001
r: 0.15
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 102 56
Reject 298 348
n: 804
p < 0.0001
r: -0.15
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 112 213
Reject 130 170
n: 625
p: 0.0002
r: -0.15
Personal identity: biological view Accept Reject
Accept 27 87
Reject 103 187
n: 404
p: 0.0027
r: -0.15
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 14 110
Reject 81 340
n: 545
p: 0.0005
r: 0.15
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 127 105
Reject 95 132
n: 459
p: 0.0016
r: 0.15
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 133 127
Reject 101 175
n: 536
p: 0.0007
r: 0.14
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 37 212
Reject 23 239
n: 511
p: 0.001
r: -0.14
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 17 135
Reject 126 468
n: 746
p < 0.0001
r: 0.14
Personal identity: biological view Accept Reject
Accept 63 156
Reject 107 607
n: 933
p < 0.0001
r: 0.14
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 46 57
Reject 157 288
n: 548
p: 0.0008
r: 0.14
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 227 363
Reject 144 417
n: 1151
p < 0.0001
r: 0.14
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 316 232
Reject 223 268
n: 1039
p < 0.0001
r: -0.14
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 21 106
Reject 163 385
n: 675
p: 0.0002
r: -0.14
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 35 180
Reject 257 702
n: 1174
p < 0.0001
r: -0.14
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 101 150
Reject 134 129
n: 514
p: 0.0014
r: 0.14
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 25 72
Reject 53 365
n: 515
p: 0.0015
r: 0.14
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 68 51
Reject 200 322
n: 641
p: 0.0004
r: 0.14
Personal identity: biological view Accept Reject
Accept 37 135
Reject 72 488
n: 732
p: 0.0002
r: 0.14
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 111 31
Reject 395 219
n: 756
p < 0.0001
r: -0.14
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 65 415
Reject 105 348
n: 933
p < 0.0001
r: -0.14
Personal identity: psychological view Accept Reject
Accept 24 312
Reject 40 281
n: 657
p: 0.0004
r: 0.14
Personal identity: further-fact view Accept Reject
Accept 16 93
Reject 27 435
n: 571
p: 0.0009

Strongest correlations with demographic questions (target population)

r: -0.19
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 7 498
Reject 36 401
n: 942
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 36 657
Reject 78 538
n: 1309
p < 0.0001
r: -0.16
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 16 155
Reject 162 602
n: 935
p < 0.0001
r: 0.16
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 44 189
Reject 70 995
n: 1298
p < 0.0001
r: -0.14
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 5 500
Reject 25 412
n: 942
p < 0.0001
r: 0.13
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 13 158
Reject 17 747
n: 935
p < 0.0001
r: -0.13
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 86 419
Reject 112 325
n: 942
p < 0.0001
r: 0.13
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 13 158
Reject 18 746
n: 935
p < 0.0001
r: 0.13
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 30 195
Reject 42 675
n: 942
p < 0.0001
r: 0.13
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 18 153
Reject 25 739
n: 935
p < 0.0001
r: 0.12
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 50 238
Reject 71 874
n: 1233
p < 0.0001
r: 0.12
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 69 156
Reject 129 588
n: 942
p: 0.0002
r: 0.12
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 114 391
Reject 64 373
n: 942
p: 0.0003
r: -0.11
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 10 223
Reject 123 942
n: 1298
p < 0.0001
r: 0.11
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 21 275
Reject 28 985
n: 1309
p < 0.0001
r: 0.11
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 12 159
Reject 18 746
n: 935
p: 0.0012
r: 0.1
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 129 35
Reject 525 253
n: 942
p: 0.0024
r: -0.1
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 23 482
Reject 37 400
n: 942
p: 0.003
r: 0.09
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 18 153
Reject 42 722
n: 935
p: 0.0043
r: 0.09
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 6 165
Reject 9 755
n: 935
p: 0.0046
r: 0.09
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 51 254
Reject 106 920
n: 1331
p: 0.0011
r: -0.09
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 9 279
Reject 62 883
n: 1233
p: 0.0021
r: 0.09
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 45 166
Reject 88 650
n: 949
p: 0.0076
r: -0.09
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 50 596
Reject 71 516
n: 1233
p: 0.0026
r: -0.09
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 137 556
Reject 151 465
n: 1309
p: 0.002
r: -0.08
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 145 548
Reject 166 450
n: 1309
p: 0.0022
r: 0.08
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 148 89
Reject 612 472
n: 1321
p: 0.0029
r: 0.08
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 124 93
Reject 518 488
n: 1223
p: 0.0053
r: 0.08
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 106 109
Reject 482 516
n: 1213
p: 0.0056
r: -0.08
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 7 164
Reject 65 699
n: 935
p: 0.0153
r: -0.08
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 11 494
Reject 21 416
n: 942
p: 0.0171
r: 0.08
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 74 159
Reject 213 852
n: 1298
p: 0.0064
r: 0.08
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 48 598
Reject 23 564
n: 1233
p: 0.0079
r: 0.07
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 38 467
Reject 19 418
n: 942
p: 0.0246
r: -0.07
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 7 157
Reject 64 714
n: 942
p: 0.0247
r: 0.07
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 12 159
Reject 28 736
n: 935
p: 0.0305
r: -0.07
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 34 471
Reject 50 387
n: 942
p: 0.0321
r: -0.07
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 22 203
Reject 116 601
n: 942
p: 0.0369
r: 0.07
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 23 202
Reject 43 674
n: 942
p: 0.0369
r: 0.07
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 14 282
Reject 25 988
n: 1309
p: 0.014
r: 0.07
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 11 160
Reject 25 739
n: 935
p: 0.045
r: -0.06
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 6 499
Reject 9 428
n: 942
p: 0.049
r: 0.06
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 83 610
Reject 50 566
n: 1309
p: 0.0222
r: -0.06
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 20 217
Reject 137 947
n: 1321
p: 0.0249
r: -0.06
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 108 170
Reject 486 459
n: 1223
p: 0.0317
r: 0.06
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 65 168
Reject 244 821
n: 1298
p: 0.0271
r: 0.06
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 15 631
Reject 8 579
n: 1233
p: 0.0332
r: -0.06
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 34 659
Reject 41 575
n: 1309
p: 0.0348
r: -0.06
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 14 679
Reject 25 591
n: 1309
p: 0.0416
r: -0.06
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 9 286
Reject 52 946
n: 1293
p: 0.0453
r: 0.06
Personal identity: biological view Yes No
Accept 263 32
Reject 872 126
n: 1293
p: 0.0455
r: 0.05
Personal identity: psychological view Yes No
Accept 16 677
Reject 4 612
n: 1309
p: 0.0468
r: -0.05
Personal identity: further-fact view Yes No
Accept 18 215
Reject 120 945
n: 1298
p: 0.0498