Free will and Determinism

Question 1

What is determinism?

Answer 1

Proposes that an individual’s behaviour is shaped by internal or external factors, rather than their own free will

Question 2

What is free will?

Answer 2

Assumes that an individual has an active role in controlling their behaviour, not biological or external forces

Question 3

What is biological determinism?

Answer 3

The belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences that we cannot control. These influences could be genes, hormones, neurotransmitter levels, brain damage, or evolutionary explanations for behaviour.

Question 4

What is an example of biological determinism?

Answer 4

The biological explanation for OCD suggests it is due to neurotransmitter activity of dopamine in the brain

Question 5

What is environmental determinism?

Answer 5

The belief that behaviour is caused by external influences that we cannot control. These influences could include stimulus-response links, operant conditioning or the influence of those around us.

Question 6

What is an example of environmental determinism?

Answer 6

Phobias are learnt by associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus and pairing these together to create a phobia. There is no choice in this as the phobia occurs due to the impact of learning.

Question 7

What is psychic determinism?

Answer 7

The belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control, which may stem from early childhood. These influences could include the effect of the id on our behaviour, or the influence of childhood trauma which have been repressed into the unconscious mind.

Question 8

What is an example of psychic determinism?

Answer 8

Phobias could be caused by unconscious conflicts that are repressed into childhood due to an unresolved Oedipus complex at the phallic stage of development - case study of Little Hans

Question 9

What is soft determinism?

Answer 9

Suggests that whilst all human behaviour may have a cause, individuals do have a capacity to make conscious choices about their behaviour. Although behaviour is predictable, this does not make it inevitable. They can choose their behaviour, although this may be limited by internal and external forces.

Question 10

What is an example of soft determinism?

Answer 10

Conformity due to the illusion of choice in an environment that does not constrain our behaviour, as some people do resist conformity. You do have a choice to conform, but it is somewhat constrained by internal and external factors.

Question 11

What is hard determinism?

Answer 11

Suggests that all human behaviour may have a cause and it is theoretically possible to identify all those causal factors.This approach fits with the goals of science to establish universal laws governing behaviour.

Question 12

What is an example of hard determinism?

Answer 12

Acquisition of phobia - stimulus-response associations between a neutral stimulus and unconditioned response

Question 13

What is the scientific emphasis on causal explanations?

Answer 13

Refers to psychology’s tendency to observe one variable affecting another. One of the basic principles of science is that every event in the universe has a cause and that causes can be explained using general laws. Knowledge of causes and the formulation of laws are important as they allow scientists to predict and control events in the future.

Question 14

What are the criteria for causal explanations?

Answer 14

All variables, such as confounding and extraneous variables, are controlled for
Any differences in the DV must therefore be down to the IV
As a result, researchers can then infer that the IV clearly affected the DV

Question 15

FREE WILL AND DETERMINISM - Determinism in psychology allows for a more scientific approach

Answer 15

Deterministic approach seeks to identify exact causes of behaviour so scientists can establish nomothetic laws.
OCD as being part of faulty genetics can help establish a general law which can help people at risk.
Therefore it has societal benefits

Question 16

FREE WILL AND DETERMINISM - There is evidence to suggest that free will is a fallacy

Answer 16

Chun Siong Soon found that brain activity relating to whether we press a button with the left or right hand occurs in the brain up to 10 seconds before pts report being consciously aware of making such a decision, suggesting that behaviour is already determined within us.

Question 17

FREE WILL AND DETERMINISM - Deterministic perspectives have complications for the criminal justice system

Answer 17

Stephen Mobley was found guilty of shooting a pizza shop manager - the legal team’s request for genetic testing to see if he had inherited a criminal gene had to be thrown out of court. The notion that committing crime is involuntary conflicts with the ideals of the legal system, so this debate has far reaching consequences.

Question 18

FREE WILL AND DETERMINISM - There is evidence which suggests the importance of free will

Answer 18

Roberts found that adolescents with a strong belief in fatalism were at significantly greater risk of depression. Those with a high internal locus of control tend to be mentally healthier.

Question 19

What is the interactionist perspective?

Answer 19

Includes aspect of both determinism and free will.
For example, the cognitive explanation of depression suggests it is due to faulty thinking, but the therapy encourages individuals to use their own free will to change their behaviour. This offers a more complete explanation.