3 - Free Will + Determinism

Question 1

Define free will?

Answer 1

The view that humans are self-determining + free to choose their own thoughts and behaviours

Question 2

Does free will suggest behaviour is predictable?

Answer 2

No - suggests behaviour is unpredictable

Environmental forces can influence behaviour, but humans always have the overriding decision-making powers

Question 3

Give an example of a psychological approach that believes in free will

Answer 3

Humanistic approach

• Humans believed to make their own decisions
• E.g. self-actualisation involves individuals consciously striving to become the best version of themselves

Question 4

Define determinism?

Answer 4

The view that human behaviour is a product of forces beyond the control of the individual

Question 5

Does determinism suggest behaviour is predictable?

Answer 5

Yes - as all behaviours have a cause (internal or external forces), looking at the cause allows the behaviour to be predicted

Question 6

What are the two levels of determinism?

Answer 6

• Soft determinism

- Hard determinism (‘fatalism’)

Question 7

Define soft determinism?

Answer 7

Behaviour is constrained by internal + external forces, but there may be limited free will between a limited range of possibilities

Question 8

Which approach uses the concept of soft determinism? How?

Answer 8

Cognitive approach

• Internal factors (e.g. brain structures) + external factors (e.g. schemas developed through experience) limit behaviour options
• Still some element of free will (e.g. via mediational processes)

Question 9

Define hard determinism?

Answer 9

Behaviour is caused by internal + external forces. Free will is an illusion.

Question 10

What are the three types of determinism?

Answer 10

• Biological determinism
• Environmental determinism
• Psychic determinism

Question 11

Define biological determinism?

Answer 11

Belief behaviour is controlled by internal biological influences we cannot control (e.g. genes, hormones, neurochemicals)

Question 12

Which approach believes in biological determinism?

Answer 12

Biological approach

- E.g. Believes aggressive behaviours are caused by the MAO gene

Question 13

Define environmental determinism?

Answer 13

Belief behaviour is controlled by external environmental influences we cannot control (e.g. classical conditions + operant systems of reward + punishment)

Question 14

Which approach believes in environmental determinism?

Answer 14

Learning approaches (behaviourist + social learning theory) 
- E.g. Babies learn to cry when hungry through positive reinforcement of food whenever they behave in this way

Question 15

Define psychic determinism?

Answer 15

Belief behaviour is controlled by internal unconscious fears + desires we cannot control (e.g. repressed trauma causing a fear)

Question 16

Which approach believes in psychic determinism?

Answer 16

Psychodynamic approach
- E.g. Little Hans’ phobia of horses stemmed from repressed castration anxiety as part of the Oedipus Complex he was unconsciously experiencing

Question 17

Which aspect of the free will and determinism debate is scientific? Why?

Answer 17

Hard determinism

• Hard determinism suggests a cause-effect can be established for everything
• This allows behaviour to be predicted + scientific laws created

Question 18

Why do psychologists like to be associated with science?

Answer 18

This association increases psychology’s credibility (as science is more well-respected)

Question 19

What is an interactionist approach and why may it be taken?

Answer 19

• Compromise between the free will + determinism theories
• Behaviour controlled by internal + external forces with limited free will
• (Effectively ‘soft determinism’)
• May be taken because both sides of the debate have negatives

Question 20

Give 1 positive evaluation point for free will

Answer 20

Can improve mental health

• Believing in free will can boost mental health
• Individuals feel more optimistic + happy as they feel they have choices
• E.g. Roberts et al found adolescents with a high external LOC (deterministic) had a far higher chance of developing depression than those with a high internal LOC (believe in free will)
• Believing in free will can improve the mental wellbeing of individuals

Question 21

Give 1 negative evaluation point for free will

Answer 21

Limits ability to make general laws

• Free will suggests behaviour is unpredictable
• Unpredictability means general laws/theories about behaviour cannot be drawn
• E.g. Suggests cant predict aggression by screening for MAO gene because it is caused by personal choice
• Free will devalues the purpose of psychology (creating general laws)

Question 22

Give 1 positive evaluation point for determinism

Answer 22

Can scientifically pinpoint cause of behaviour + find treatment

• Determinism suggests all behaviour has a cause
• Scientifically studying the cause allows undesirable behaviours to be predicted + prevented through treatment
• E.g. Low serotonin identified as cause for OCD so SSRIs for treatment
• Determinism helps society by providing treatments, putting it in line with other sciences

Question 23

Give 1 negative evaluation point for determinism

Answer 23

Issues for legal system

• Determinism suggests individuals aren’t in control of their behaviour
• Lack of accountability can prevent individuals being punished for their crimes (Law of Diminished Responsibility)
• E.g. If aggressive behaviours are predetermined by MAO gene, aggressive criminals aren’t accountable + shouldn’t be punished
• Determinism doesn’t fit our current legal system + societal values