2.2: Free will and determinism

Question 1

A psychology student carried out a study of excitement at a theme park. She measured the heart rate of people waiting in the queue for a roller coaster. The student’s tutor said, ‘Using heart rate as a measure of excitement is an example of biological reductionism.’
Outline two non-biological ways of measuring excitement that the student could also use
in this situation (4 marks)

Answer 1

Possible content:
 questionnaire measuring attitude – questions assess how the participant feels about going on the roller coaster
 rating scale of own excitement – the participant could rate their perceived level of excitement on a scale of 1 – 10
 observation of non-verbal behaviour whilst waiting in the queue; eg tallying appropriate behavioural categories
 interviews before/after the participant has been on the ride asking questions about how they
felt/whether they enjoy other exciting occasions/events/how they cope with excitement, etc

Question 2

Briefly outline one problem of the free will viewpoint and one problem with the determinist viewpoint (4 marks)

Answer 2

One problem with the free will viewpoint is that some behaviours do not seem to be under conscious control.
For example, behaviours that are classically conditioned
cannot be controlled by conscious effort

Question 3

Briefly outline one problem of the free will viewpoint and one problem with the determinist viewpoint (4 marks).
One problem with the free will viewpoint is that some behaviours do not seem to be under conscious control.
For example, behaviours that are classically conditioned
cannot be controlled by conscious effort.

One problem with the determinist viewpoint

Answer 3

One problem with the determinist viewpoint is that research indicates that some behaviour is under internal, conscious control.
For example, cognitive behavioural therapy works by participants learning to consciously alter their thought processes

Question 4

Joel has learned to get his own way at school by having fights with other children. His two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children. Recently, Joel has also been excluded from school for attacking another child.

Explain what is meant by determinism. Refer to Joel’s aggressive behaviour in your answer (4 marks)

Answer 4

Biological determinism is that behaviour is caused by biological factors, for example genes, hormones or brain structure

Question 5

Joel has learned to get his own way at school by having fights with other children. His two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children. Recently, Joel has also been excluded from school for attacking another child.

Explain what is meant by determinism. Refer to Joel’s aggressive behaviour in your answer (4 marks).
Biological determinism is that behaviour is caused by biological factors, for example genes, hormones or brain structure.
How is this shown?

Answer 5

This is shown, as Joel’s two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children, too, so his brothers were also aggressive

Question 6

Joel has learned to get his own way at school by having fights with other children. His two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children. Recently, Joel has also been excluded from school for attacking another child.

Explain what is meant by determinism. Refer to Joel’s aggressive behaviour in your answer (4 marks).
Biological determinism is that behaviour is caused by biological factors, for example genes, hormones or brain structure.
This is shown, as Joel’s two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children, too, so his brothers were also aggressive.
Environmental determinism

Answer 6

Environmental determinism is that behaviour caused by the environment, for example family, peers or the consequences of behaviour

Question 7

Joel has learned to get his own way at school by having fights with other children. His two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children. Recently, Joel has also been excluded from school for attacking another child.

Explain what is meant by determinism. Refer to Joel’s aggressive behaviour in your answer (4 marks).
Biological determinism is that behaviour is caused by biological factors, for example genes, hormones or brain structure.
This is shown, as Joel’s two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children, too, so his brothers were also aggressive.
Environmental determinism is that behaviour caused by the environment, for example family, peers or the consequences of behaviour.
How is this shown?

Answer 7

This is shown, as Joel has learned to get his own way at school by having fights with other children, which is the positive or desirable consequence of aggression

Question 8

Joel has learned to get his own way at school by having fights with other children. His two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children. Recently, Joel has also been excluded from school for attacking another child.

Explain what is meant by determinism. Refer to Joel’s aggressive behaviour in your answer (4 marks).
Biological determinism is that behaviour is caused by biological factors, for example genes, hormones or brain structure.
This is shown, as Joel’s two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children, too, so his brothers were also aggressive.
Psychic determinism

Answer 8

Psychic determinism is that behaviour is caused by unconscious forces, for example instincts, repressed experiences, fears, motives or displacement

Question 9

Joel has learned to get his own way at school by having fights with other children. His two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children. Recently, Joel has also been excluded from school for attacking another child.

Explain what is meant by determinism. Refer to Joel’s aggressive behaviour in your answer (4 marks).
Biological determinism is that behaviour is caused by biological factors, for example genes, hormones or brain structure.
This is shown, as Joel’s two older brothers were both excluded from school for injuring other children, too, so his brothers were also aggressive.
Psychic determinism is that behaviour is caused by unconscious forces, for example instincts, repressed experiences, fears, motives or displacement.
How is this shown?

Answer 9

This is shown by the use of displacement, which is fighting with other children