Discuss free will and determinism in psychology Flashcards
free will outline
The humanistic approach to free will suggests all human behaviour is affected by our subjective experience and individual choices and these are the only factors that shape our behaviour.
- all humans are qualitatively different, they can only be understood on an individual level.
- behaviour is self-determined meaning we have free will and radical humanists argue for free will, where everyone has the power to make choices about their behaviour or actions.
cognitive approach to free will - behaviour is affected by subjective experience and individual choices
- individual choices and free will are based on the principles of moral responsibility – an individual oversees their own actions and choices to engage in behaviours that are morally acceptable.
Society is also based on moral responsibility (e.g., legal systems) where humans are accountable for their own actions, regardless of other (biological, learned or psychic) factors.
- behaviour is self-determined meaning we have free will.
- society requires free will as if we reject free will, we must also reject responsibility and society would break down.
determinism
4 types: scientific, biological, environmental & psychic
Scientific determinism is the idea all behaviour has a cause and effect so, predictions about behaviour can be objectively tested by manipulating the IV to observe its effects on the DV
- reject determinism, we must also reject psychology itself so, behaviour is scientifically determined, and we have no free will.
Biological determinism is the idea all behaviour is caused by internal bodily activity, and these are the only factors that shape behaviour including genetic factors, brain organisation, neurochemistry and evolution.
- behaviour is biologically determined, and we have no free will.
Environmental determinism is the idea behaviour is caused by external environmental experiences and these are the only things that shape behaviour including learning, upbringing, school and peers. Humans are born a blank slate (tabula rasa) meaning we have no predisposed talents or abilities therefore, all behaviour is learnt via classical, operant condition and social learning theory. Therefore, all behaviour is behaviourally determined, and we have no free will.
Psychic determinism is the idea all behaviour is caused by unconscious instincts, drives and unresolved conflicts during childhood, including distribution of libido, ID, ego and superego. Therefore, behaviour is determined by innate unconscious drives and early experience, and we have no free will.
determinism limit
can provide an excuse for immoral behaviour. For example, Stephen Mobley killed a pizza shop manager and claimed he was born to kill due to a family history of violence.
However, this argument was rejected, and he was sentenced to death.
This suggests hard determinism may be undesirable in real life setting as it may lead to issues of criminal responsibility.
free will limit
A limitation of free will is that it is an illusion and a culturally relative concept.
Behavioural psychologist Skinner claimed that free will is an illusion as our choices are determined by our previous reinforcement history.
Furthermore, the idea of self-determination may only be relevant in individualistic societies as collectivist cultures emphasise group needs.
This suggests that our experience of free will is a product of socialisation and is not universal.
free will challenge
Research which challenges the role of free will comes from the area of cognitive neuroscience, which is when an issue or debate is criticised by strong or convincing evidence.
For example, Libet et al recorded activity in motor regions of the brain, before a person has conscious awareness of the decision to move their finger.
However, the brain activity may simply represent a ‘readiness to act’ so this evidence has been challenged by other research.
interactionist
Therefore, an interactionist approach may be best when explaining behaviour.
This is when it is not possible to separate either debate as they both contribute to behaviour so a combination of the two is the most appropriate in explaining & treating behaviour.
This is because an individual’s behaviour would be best explained by both their free-will but also considering the environmental events which may have affected these (determinism).
This highlights the importance of taking an interactionist approach when considering free will and determinism as they cannot be easily separated.
