DEBATE - Free Will VS Determinism

Question 1

Hard determinism

Answer 1

No choice or control over behaviour, actions or decisions. IV causes DV.

eg S-R (behaviourism), genetics (biological), unconscious mind (psychodynamic)

Question 2

Soft determinism

Answer 2

Some choice over behaviour, element of free will but still mostly determined

Cognitive approach - SOR model

Question 3

Biological Determinism

Answer 3

Genetics and neurochemistry cause and control behaviour

eg twin studies

Question 4

Environmental Determinism

Answer 4

S-R (behaviourism)
S-O-R (cognitive)
Role models (SLT)

Question 5

Psychic determinism

Answer 5

Unconscious mind controls our behaviour. Developed through psycho sexual stages

(Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital)

Question 6

Free Will

Answer 6

Full choice over your behaviour - no cause and effect

(humanism - free will to self actualise and be in congruence)

Question 7

Scientific emphasis on CAUSAL explanations

Answer 7

Cause and effect
Only IV is manipulated and effects the DV
No Evs

Question 8

Implications

Answer 8

if hard determinism is correct - no control in behaviour - therefore cannot punish criminals

if free will is correct - socially sensitive eg mental health disorders - saying people are choosing to be that way and they can just stop

Question 9

DEBATE PARAGRAPH 1

Answer 9

P- one point to debate is whether it is hard or soft determinism that explains human behaviour

E - hard biological determinism - Gottesman SZ - 48% MZ, 17% DZ. Genetics cause SZ

Alt - however if hard determinism was correct it would be 100% MZ and 50% DZ which it isn’t

E - therefore maybe there is free will over how one twin interprets their family compared to the other so soft determinism as there is an element of free will

Question 10

DEBATE PARAGRAPH 2

Answer 10

P - a further point to debate is whether determism is more scientific than free will

E- free will has no predictive validity or ability to form a hypothesis. Humanism say we are all unique have the choice to self actualise and be congruent in different ways

Alt - determinism is much more scientific as theories like classical conditioning can predict how a stimulus would cause a response

E - Phobias and creating one through classical conditioning (Little Albert)
Predict, create hypothesis, prove it works. therefore determinism real and free will an illusion

Question 11

DEBATE PARAGRAPH 3

Answer 11

P- another point to debate is the real life implications to free will and determinism

E - Lonbrosso - hard biological determinism - born to offend. Implication - not responsible and therefore can not convict or treat offending

Alt - Howrver if free will is true we are implying that people with mental illnesses are choosing to be mentally ill

E - This is socially sensitive and offensive as it creates a stigma that people cause their illness and choose to be this way