free will and determinism

Question 1

what is free will and determinism?

Answer 1

the extent to which our behaviour is down to our own conscious or if its already pre-determined

Question 2

whats does hard determinism mean?

Answer 2

allows no room for free will in behaviour

all behaviour has a specific cause either internal or external and we cannot control them

Question 3

whats does soft determinism mean?

Answer 3

allows so free will and believes that we have some conscious mental control over our behaviour

Question 4

three types of determinism

Answer 4

biological
environmental
psychic (instincts)

Question 5

two strengths for free will.

Answer 5

face validity:
free will as a concept fits in with the things we experience in everyday life. it helps to maintain a calm and ordered society

psychological benefits:
people with high locus of control tend to be more mentally healthy

Question 6

two weakness for free will.

Answer 6

culturally relative:
concept of free will maybe be only suited for individualistic cultures where independence is valued. using this to explain behaviour can be culturally bias and ethnocentric

research evidence:
benjamin libet et al(1983) recored activity in the motor area of the brain before that pp had conscious awareness of their decision to move their finger. this shows even in simple situations our brain decides for us and we have no free will

Question 7

two strengths for determinism.

Answer 7

mental illness:
diagnosing mental illness suggest that our behaviour is determined. symptoms of a mental illness are unlikely to be behaviours that the individual wants to do.

interventions:
if we know what causes certain behaviours we can intervene and prevent certain behaviours from happening.

Question 8

two weakness for determinism.

Answer 8

concordance rates:
our behaviour is unlikey to be due to just biological and environmental factors.
this is shown in twin studies for mental illness. the determinism argument is more complex

socially sensitive:
if behaviour is determined, ethical considerations in society are created. for example, if we have not control over our behaviour, criminal behaviour should not be punished. also if we see mental health and a biological determining factor, that creates self-fulfilling prophecy