free will and determinism

Question 1

debate

Answer 1

extent behavior is determined by conscious control or pre-determined

Question 2

free will

Answer 2

free to choose thoughts and behaviors
acknowledges environmental/biological factors but we can ignore their influence
eg. humanist approach

Question 3

determinism

Answer 3

no free will over thoughts/behavior
pre-determined by internal/external factors
behavior can be predicted so behavior theories can be made

Question 4

hard determinism

Answer 4

extreme form
all behavior has specific cause
people aren’t responsible for their actions
e.g skinner’s operant conditioning
Freud in love with parents

Question 5

types of determinism

Answer 5

biological
environmental
psychic

Question 6

biological determinism

Answer 6

determined y biological factors
e.g hormones, testosterone= aggression
neurotransmitters in OCD

Question 7

environmental determinism

Answer 7

by past experiences
external influences
e.g teachers/parents
think we’re using free will but our behavior is socialised by society
e.g skinner’s conditioning, Pavlov’s dogs

Question 8

psychic determinism

Answer 8

by unconscious forces in early childhood influence unconscious
e.g psychosexual stages
ID, ego, super ego

Question 9

soft determinism

Answer 9

some free will
influencing factors
freedom to reduce these factors and make rational choices
e.g schema

Question 10

scientific emphasis on casual explanations

Answer 10

every behavior has a specific cause
uses general laws
test for cause and effect using IV and DV with labatory method
e.g Asch

Question 11

free will
EVALUATION, STRENGTH
face validity

Answer 11

free will fits in with everyday experiences
we make our own decisons everyday
reinforced by legal system
in law we’re responsible for our behaviors
keeps order in society

Question 12

free will
EVALUATION, STRENGTH
psychological benefits

Answer 12

people with a high locus of control= more mentally healthy
Roberts et al, believing in free will has a positive mental impact

Question 13

free will
EVALUATION, WEAKNESS
culturally relative

Answer 13

suited to individualistic cultures
collectivistic cultures emphasis group determined behavior
= less likely to value free will
culturally bias and ethnocentric

Question 14

free will
EVALUATION, WEAKNESS
research evidence

Answer 14

Benjamin Libet et al
recorded motor brain activity before gaining conscious awareness to move their finger
Chunsiong Soon et al, activity in prefrontal cortex 10 seconds before behavior
= we don’t have free will, brain decides for us

Question 15

determinism
EVALUATION, STRENGTH
interventions

Answer 15

if we know what causes behavior we can intervene and prevent it
e.g genetics/brain activity in murder
identify individuals who need support to avoid behavior

Question 16

determinism
EVALUATION, STRENGTH
mental illness

Answer 16

diagnosis suggests determined behaviour
symptoms unlikely choosen
e.g ‘word salad’ in schizophrenia
, suicidal thoughts in depression
medication can improvve symptoms = suggests a biological factor/determinism

Question 17

determinism
EVALUATION, WEAKNESS
concordance rates

Answer 17

behavior unlikely caused just be biological/environmental determinism
e.g MZ twins don’t have 10% concordance rates for mental illness
determinism= more complex than suggested

Question 18

determinism
EVALUATION, WEAKNESS
socially sensitive

Answer 18

if behavior is determined= ethical considerations
criminals can’t be punished if not responsible
mental health= medical treatments used because of biological determinism ignores other influencing factors
creates a self-fulfilling prophecy people are likely to fulfill