Free will and determinism Flashcards
What is determinism?
Belief that behaviour is controlled by external or internal factors acting upon the individual, meaning it is predictable.
What is biological determinism?
The belief that all behaviour is controlled or influenced by the genome or some component of ones physiology.
Give an example of a biologically determinist influence on behaviour.
Research has identified the MAOA-L gene that may lead to extreme levels of aggression. This is due to reduced serotonin inhibition which has a significant impact on behaviour.
What is environmental determinism?
The belief that all behaviour is derived from an individual’s interaction with the physical environment around them.
Give an example of an environmentally determinist influence on behaviour.
Pavlov found that phobias can be learned/conditioned and methods of systematic desensitisation can unlearn phobias.
What is psychic determinism?
Freuds theory that all behaviour is determined by a mix of innate drives and childhood experiences.
What is hard determinism?
The view that all behaviour can be predicted and there is no free will, the two are incompatible.
What is soft determinism?
Version of determinism that allows for some element of free will.
What is free will?
Belief that each individual has the power to make choices about their behaviour.
What is the significance of free will in the humanistic approach?
Free will is real and necessary as it allows us to take responsibility for our actions which enables personal growth.
What is in support of free will?
The court of law - states that all adults (apart from mentally ill) are in charge of their own actions.
(AO3) Describe a weakness of hard biological determinism, with evidence.
No behaviour is ever likely to be entirely determined by genes. Twin studies found that individuals only share 80% intelligence and 40% depression rates with their twin. Shows genes cannot completely determine behaviour, suggesting soft determinism is more appropriate.
(AO3) Why is determinism impractical in today’s society?
All people including criminals could blame actions on internal and external forces. No accountability or responsibility so cannot be punished. E.g. murderer claimed they were ‘born to kill’ due to a family history of violence. Claim rejected and was sentenced. Shows that in practice, determinism is not practical or healthy.
(AO3) Describe the potential issue with free will.
Skinner suggested it is an illusion. Even when we perceive to be making decisions, it is heavily influenced by past experiences such as reinforcement. E.g. someone who got food poisoning from a restaurant less likely to return to restaurant than someone who did not. Suggests we cannot truly self-determine.
(AO3) Describe contradictory evidence against free will.
Brain scanning found motor areas of the brain were active before the conscious decision to move a finger was made. Suggests actions are pre-determined and not made by conscious thought. However, this activity has been suggested to be a readiness to act, not the choice to act itself. This would support free will as it suggests a conscious decision has to be made.
