Free Will Flashcards
What is free will?
Individuals have an active role in controlling their behaviour; they are free to choose and not acting in response to any external or internal pressures.
What did Maslow and Rogers argue about self-determination?
Maslow and Rogers argued that self-determination was a necessary part of human behaviour. Without it, self-development and self-actualisation are not possible.
What did Rogers claim about control and responsibility?
Rogers claimed that as long as an individual remains controlled by other people or other things, they cannot take responsibility for their behaviour and therefore cannot begin to change it.
What remains beyond personal control according to the Humanistic Approach?
Things which are outside a person’s sense of self remain beyond personal control.
When is personal growth possible according to the Humanistic Approach?
Only when an individual takes self-responsibility is personal growth possible, resulting in psychological health.
What is the basis of moral responsibility?
The basis of moral responsibility is that an individual is in charge of their own actions.
Who does the law state does not have moral responsibility?
The law states that children and those who are mentally ill do not have this responsibility.
What is the societal assumption about normal adult behaviour?
There is the assumption in our society that normal adult behaviour is self-determined.
Are humans accountable for their actions?
Humans are accountable for their actions, regardless of innate factors or the influences of early experience.
What is the basic principle of causal explanations in psychology?
Every event has a cause, and these can be explained with general laws.
What allows scientists to predict and control events in psychology?
Knowledge of causal laws.
What must psychologists do to establish causal relationships?
Generate a theory and hypothesis whereby cause and effect can be established.
What empirical methods do psychologists use to test hypotheses?
Lab experiments.
What is applied to determine if predictions are statistically significant?
Statistical analysis.
What is the emphasis on when establishing influences on behavior?
Using the scientific method to control extraneous and confounding variables.
What does determinism contribute to in psychology?
It increases the credibility of psychology and allows predictions to be tested.
What is a successful application of psychological principles?
Development of treatments for conditions such as schizophrenia.
What is the illusion of free will?
The ability to decide between different courses of action may give the illusion of having free will, but it is not true free will.
What influences choices according to the illusion of free will?
Choices may be determined by previous reinforcement experiences.
Is the concept of self-determination culturally relative?
Yes, self-determination may be a culturally relative concept, appropriate for individualist societies only.
How do collectivist cultures view behavior?
Collectivist cultures place greater value on behavior determined by group needs.
What did Libet’s research find regarding free will?
Libet recorded brain activity in motor areas before a person had conscious awareness of their decision to move their finger.
What did Chun Siong’s research reveal?
Chun Siong found activity in the prefrontal cortex up to 10 seconds before a person was aware of their decision to act.
