It's easier to describe involuntary actions first. Basically, involuntary actions keep you alive and keep you safe. They are things which happen without you even thinking about them. These include behaviours like breathing, blinking, yawning, hiccoughs, and so on, or things like jerking your hand out of a fire, shivering when you're cold, or ducking when someone throws a ball at your face.
Voluntary actions are virtually everything else. Even walking is voluntary. You don't have to think about it when you do it, but it generally doesn't happen until you decide to do it.
Now, here's where the confusing part comes in. Many involuntary actions can become voluntary if you so choose. You can control your breathing or blinking, you can jerk your hand away, or you can duck. However, it's extremely difficult to shiver without being cold or to make yourself yawn or hiccough.
Similarly, you don't have to think about walking. That is, you don't have to think how to do it, but you're not doing it involuntarily. You're doing it subconsciously.
I hope this helps you to understand the difference. It's a fascinating topic.
Voluntary actions are virtually everything else. Even walking is voluntary. You don't have to think about it when you do it, but it generally doesn't happen until you decide to do it.
Now, here's where the confusing part comes in. Many involuntary actions can become voluntary if you so choose. You can control your breathing or blinking, you can jerk your hand away, or you can duck. However, it's extremely difficult to shiver without being cold or to make yourself yawn or hiccough.
Similarly, you don't have to think about walking. That is, you don't have to think how to do it, but you're not doing it involuntarily. You're doing it subconsciously.
I hope this helps you to understand the difference. It's a fascinating topic.
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