11. ISSUES & DEBATES (FREE WILL & DETERMINISM) Flashcards
What is the Free Will and Determinism debate in psychology?
The debate explores whether our behaviour is determined by internal or external forces, over which we have no control, or whether we have the ability to make choices and act freely.
What is free will in psychology?
Free will is the belief that people can control their behaviour through conscious choices and override biological or environmental influences.
What is determinism in psychology?
Determinism is the view that free will is an illusion, and behaviour is governed by forces (biological, environmental, or psychic) over which we have no control, making our actions predictable.
What is hard determinism?
Hard determinism is the view that all behaviour is shaped by forces outside our control, such as biology or past experiences. It is incompatible with the idea of free will.
What is soft determinism?
Soft determinism is the view that behaviour is influenced by biological and environmental factors but still allows for some degree of free will in our actions.
What is biological determinism?
Biological determinism is the belief that all human behaviour is determined by genes and biological processes, leaving little room for free will.
What is environmental determinism?
Environmental determinism is the belief that behaviour is shaped by external forces, such as previous experiences learned through classical and operant conditioning.
What is psychic determinism?
Psychic determinism, according to Freud, suggests that behaviour is shaped by childhood experiences and unconscious drives, such as the id, ego, and superego.
How is scientific research linked to determinism?
Determinism is often favoured in scientific research because it focuses on causal explanations and seeks to predict and control behaviour, making it easier to demonstrate through controlled lab experiments.
Why is testing free will in psychological research difficult?
Free will is a non-physical phenomenon, making it difficult to quantify and measure. Psychology, as a science, struggles to study something without a physical presence that could affect behaviour.
How does biological determinism explain OCD?
The biological approach suggests that OCD is genetically determined. For example, Nestadt et al. (2000) found that individuals with first-degree relatives who have OCD are five times more likely to develop the disorder themselves.
How does environmental determinism explain phobias?
The behaviourist approach suggests phobias are learned through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning, making them the result of environmental influences beyond the individual’s control.
How does biological determinism explain mate choice in relationships?
The evolutionary approach argues that we are attracted to partners who can provide and care for healthy offspring, suggesting that attraction is instinctive and not a matter of free will.
How does free will apply to stress perception in biopsychology?
Soft determinism in stress perception suggests that while some stress responses are automatic, we can still choose how to interpret and react to stressful situations, such as seeing a traffic jam as less stressful through cognitive reframing.
How does CBT demonstrate free will in treating addiction?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) encourages individuals to change irrational and negative thoughts, suggesting that people have the ability to control their cognitive biases and thus their behaviours, such as in addiction treatment.
How does the Learning Theory explain addiction through environmental determinism?
The cue reactivity paradigm explains that addictive behaviours are triggered by stimuli associated with the behaviour, such as smoking, suggesting that emotional responses to these cues prompt addictive actions, beyond the individual’s control.
How does biological determinism apply to the localisation of brain functions?
Biological determinism suggests that certain brain areas, such as the motor cortex, are responsible for specific behaviours. Damage to these areas can lead to a loss of control over certain actions, indicating that behaviour is out of the individual’s control.
How does Social Learning Theory reflect soft determinism?
Social Learning Theory suggests that behaviours are influenced by reinforcement, but cognitive processes mediate how we respond, allowing for some degree of free will in how we act.
What is a strength of determinism in psychology?
Determinism is consistent with scientific aims because it seeks to identify causes and predict behaviour, which has led to the development of effective treatments, such as drug therapies for schizophrenia.
What is a limitation of genetic and environmental determinism?
Neither genetic nor environmental determinism is fully supported by evidence. For example, MZ twins share 100% of their genes, but the concordance rates for depression (around 40%) suggest that behaviour is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
Why is determinism seen as oversimplifying human behaviour?
Determinism often overlooks other factors such as cognition and emotion, which can override biological impulses, making it an incomplete explanation for human behaviour.
What are the implications of accepting a deterministic view of human behaviour?
Accepting determinism could imply that individuals are not responsible for their actions, potentially leading to defences in criminal cases, as individuals may claim their behaviour is determined by biological factors.
What is a strength of the free will perspective?
Free will has high face validity, as people generally feel they are making choices in their daily lives. Research suggests that individuals with an internal locus of control, who believe they can influence their behaviour, tend to be more mentally healthy
Why do some psychologists believe free will is an illusion?
BF Skinner argued that while we may feel we are exercising free will, our choices are actually determined by previous reinforcement experiences. This suggests that free will may be an illusion rather than a valid phenomenon.
