free will and determinism Flashcards
What is the difference between free will and determinism?
Determinism- our behaviour is controlled by factors we have no influence over, our destiny is decided for us
Free will- we choose our behaviour, we are in control of our destiny
What are the 5 types of determinism?
Hard
Soft
Biological
Environmental
Psychic
What is hard determinism?
Behaviour is caused by events outside an individuals control
Free will is an illusion
What is soft determinism?
We choose how to behave, but these choices are within some constraints by other internal or external factors
E.g. SLT, out behaviour is guided by learning e.g. imitation, identification
What is biological determinism?
Behaviour is caused by internal biological factors e.g. genetics, neurochemistry, brain structure
E.g. biological approach
What is environmental determinism?
Behaviour is caused by past experience, and controlled by external forces in the environment e.g. reinforcement and punishment
E.g. controlled by learning, assuming whoever feeds us is who we become attached to -learning theory of attachment
What is psychic determinism?
Give an example
Unconscious forces and innate drives control behaviour
All we say and do has a cause
E.g. Someone being obsessively tidy
What is a causal explanation also known as?
What is it based on?
Establishing cause and effect
The scientific principle that behaviour is determined by internal or external factors
Any change in the DV must be due to manipulation of the IV
Hence use of lap experiments (scientific), where all EVs can be controlled
List the approaches from deterministic (top) to free will (bottom)
Biological
Psychodynamic
Behavioural
SLT
Cognitive
Humanistic
One strength of determinism is that its preditciton and control has led to development of treatments for mental illness
PET
E: E.g. stating OCD is caused by too little seratonin>we treat it by increasing seratonin levels>development of drug therapy e.g. SSRIs to treat OCD
T: Increases the QoL of patient
One weakness of determinism is that hard determinism doesnt align with therapy
PET
(free will vv.)
E: We are doomed to develop a mental illness and do not have the free will to overcome this, doesnt align with the beliefs of therapy that states individuals have the power to overcome
Patient feels like they have no chance overcoming>patient doesnt engage in therapy
There’s lots of evidence to the benefits of therapy
T: Hard determinism is too pessimistic
One weakness of determinism is that it does not align with the CJS
PET
(free will vv.)
E: In the UK, we are morally responsible for committing a crime
Determinism provides an excuse for criminal behaviour
T: Leads to legal issues regarding the nature of responsibility
One strength of free will is that its very optomistic
PET
E: Individuals with a internal locus of control tend to be more mentally healthy than those with an external locus of control
Psychologist found that youth with strong belief of fatalism (lifes determined) were more at risk of developing depression
T: Optimism has positive implications for lives and mental health
One weakness of free will is that its not very scientific
PETF
E: States individuals can choose how to respond to situations, we cannot predict (important feature of science) or proving it wrong (unfalsifiable)
T: Free will doesnt help psychology prove its scientific stance
F: Soft determinism is the most realistic approach to adopt, it acknowledges we are controlled by some factors, but we also have choice
In conclusion, which stance would be the most realistic approach to adopt? Explain
Soft determinism
Acknowledges we are controlled by some factors, but we also have some choice in our behaviour
