Free will and determinism

Question 1

Free-will

Answer 1

• The idea that humans can choose how to behave without the influence of any external factors

Question 2

Determinism

Answer 2

• The idea that human behaviour is the result of internal or external influences

Question 3

Hard Determinism

Answer 3

• The idea that all behaviour is due to internal or external forces
• There is no free will

Question 4

Soft Determinism

Answer 4

• The belief that human behaviour is due to both internal/external forces and free-will
• e.g. Cognitive processes such as thoughts and emotion allow control over one’s outcome

Question 5

Biological Determinism

Answer 5

• The idea that behaviour is caused by biological influences such as genetics, neurotransmitters, hormones etc.)
• e.g. The IGF2r gene on chromosome 6 may be associated to intelligence to some extent (Chorley et al.)

Question 6

Environmental Determinism

Answer 6

• The idea that behaviour is due to the influence of the external environment e.g. parents, teachers, social media
• e.g. Behaviourism and Social Learning Theory

Question 7

Psychic Determinism

Answer 7

• Believes that behaviour is controlled due to unconscious drives that are based on psychodynamic conflicts such as childhood experiences and innate drives
• e.g. phenomena like ‘Freudian slips’ and dreams are explained due to meaningful explanations rooted in the unconscious mind.