Free will and determinism Flashcards
What is this debate about?
How much choice and control we have in our behaviour
What is free will?
Having full autonomy and control over our actions without influence or manipulation
What is determinism?
Our behaviours are caused by something and we have little or no control over it
Define hard and soft determinism
Hard: Human behaviour is completely determined by factors outside of their control (no free will)
Soft: Human behaviour is largely predetermined by factors outside of our control, but free will can be exercised in certain situations
What is biological determinism?
Behaviour is the result of the internal processes of the body, including genetics, brain physiology, and biochemistry
What is environmental determinism?
Our behaviour is caused by our environment
What is psychic determinism?
Our behaviour is caused by our unconscious mind. Freud argues that every behaviour has an initial cause and behaviour is initiated in an area of our mind that we cannot access
What are the three types of determinism?
- Biological
- Environmental
- Psychic
Name a deterministic approach
Biological
Name an approach that believes in free will
Humanistic
Within forensic psychology, name a deterministic theory and one based on free will
Deterministic: Lombroso’s atavistic form
Free will: Interventions such as anger management and restorative justice
What is the problem with this debate?
Although it makes intuitive sense, free will is impossible to test as it is non-physical and therefore difficult to quantify and measure
How can determinism be positively evaluated?
It is very scientific
