free will and determinism Flashcards
AO1: outline free will and give approaches example
free will assumes humans are free to choose their behaviour and that influences can be rejected at will.
The approach that aligns with free will the most is humanistic because it talks about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and client centred therapy which is all about people being able to effect change in their life by choosing to see their situation differently and move towards their best potential (self actualisation).
AO1: outline determinism (hard & soft)
Hard determinism is the view that all behaviours have causes that are internal /external events outside our control, free will is an illusion.
Soft determinism is the view that behaviours are predictibel because they have internal/external causes, but are influenced by limited personal choices.
AO1: Explain the scientific emphasis on causal explanations
one of the basic principles of science is that every event in the universe has a cause and that cause can be explained using general laws (hard determinism).
AO1: Explain biological, environmental and psychic determinism - give examples of topics and approaches
Biological determinism is the view that behaviours are caused by biological influences we cannot control. For example in the biological approach there are genes and hormones that can be used as examples.
Environmental determinism is the view that behaviours are caused by environmental factors we cannot control. For example conditioning and reinforcement in the behaviourist approach.
Psychic determinism is the view that behaviours are caused by unconscious factors we cannot control. For example repressed conflicts and innate drives in the psychodynamic approach.
AO3: A strength of determinism is it is consistent with the aims of science, of establishing cause and effect
P: A strength of determinism is it is consistent with the aims of science, of establishing cause and effect. The notion that human behaviour is orderly and obeys laws places psychology on equal footing with other more established sciences.
E/E: For example, searching for causal explanations has allowed therapies, treatments and behavioural interventions to be introduced e.g. the use of clozapine as a drug treatment for people with schizophrenia.
L: This is a strength because the emphasis on cause and effect and the prediction and control of human behaviour has led to development of treatments, therapies and behavioural interventions.
HOWEVER, as an approach, it is unfalsifiable. It is based on the idea that causes of human behaviour will always exist even if we haven’t found them yet
EXTRA: strength of determinism- can establish cause and effect which has led to treatments
determinism has emphasised cause and effect and the prediction and control of human behaviour which has led to the development of treatments, therapies and behavioural interventions.
AO3: A limitation of determinism is the idea that individual choice is not the cause of our behaviour is not consistent with our legal system.
P: A limitation of determinism is the idea that individual choice is not the cause of our behaviour is not consistent with our legal system.
E/E: For example In 19981, Stephen Mobley argues he was ‘born to kill’ as his family had a disposition towards violence and aggression. Hard determinism would support Mobley’s claim proving it undesirable as it allows people to mitigate their own responsibility.
This is a limitation because determinism can be used as an excuse for violence.
L: Therefore the principles of free will sit better with the principles of our legal system.
EXTRA: a limitation of determinism: it is unfalsifiable.
As an approach it is unfalsifiable. It is based on the idea that causes of human behaviour will always exist even if we haven’t found them yet. This is impossible to prove wrong. Meaning this approach is not as scientific as it seems.
AO3: A strength of freewill is it enables people to exercise power over their lives and decisions.
P: A strength of freewill is it enables people to exercise power over their lives and decisions.
E/E: A study by Roberts et al. (2002) demonstrated that adolescents with a strong sense of belief in fatalism (that their lives were ‘decided’ by events outside of their control) were at significantly greater risk of developing depression.
L: This matters because it shows free will has ecological validity as it has been applied to real life.
EXTRA: a strength of free will- has face validity
the approach has face validity, everyday experiences gives us the impression that we exercise choice. Those with an internal locus of control are more mentally healthy.
AO3: A limitation of free will shows that brain scan evidence supports the idea of determinism.
P: A limitation of free will shows that brain scan evidence supports the idea of determinism.
E/E: A study by Libet encouraged participants to choose a random moment to flick their wrist and their brain activity was measured. It showed that unconscious brain activity leading up to the conscious decision to move came around half a second before the participant thought they were making the decisions.
L: This shows that free will is an illusion
HOWEVER, the findings may not be an appropriate challenge to the idea of free will as the decision may have just taken time to reach our consciousness.
EXTRA: limitation of free will- it is impossible to test
It is a non-psychical phenomenon and is therefore difficult to quantify and measure. This difficulty in testing the notion of objectivity does not fit with the principles of science.
