Free will and determinism

Question 1

outline

Answer 1

This topic area looks at the extent to which we have control over our thoughts, feelings and behaviour (free will) or whether we are influenced by forces beyond our control (determinism)

Question 2

Free will example

Answer 2

relates to the humanistic approach as it suggests that human beings are free to grow and reach their potential (self actualisation).

Question 3

Biological determinism

Answer 3

states that internal factors like the structure and function of the nervous system, genetic and biochemical factors all influence our behaviour. I.e if you have a genetic predisposition to depression then you will definitely get the disorder.

Question 4

Environmental determinism

Answer 4

states that our behaviour is caused by the settings in which we inhabit. i.e behavioural approaches suggest that the settings in which our behaviour occurs condition us to behave in a certain way. (double-blind statement = schizophrenia).

Question 5

Psychic determinism

Answer 5

relates to the belief that our behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts beyond our control. i.e psychodynamic explanation

Question 6

Soft determinsim

Answer 6

The cognitive approach relates to this, which states that even though human behaviour is determined by forces beyond our control we still have an element of free will to exercise rational conscious choices in our everyday lives.

Question 7

Evaluation strength: hard determinism has positive implication

Answer 7

therapies have been devised that treat mental illnesses. This shows that adopting this viewpoint can lead to beneficial treatments to those who are very ill.

Question 8

Evaluation strength: support for hard determinism

Answer 8

Soon et al (2008) found evidence of brain activity indicating that people had made a choice to press a button with either hand up to ten seconds before they became consciously aware of making the decision.

Question 9

Evaluation weakness: unfalsifiable

Answer 9

they suggest that the causes of human behaviour will always exist, they just cannot be found yet.

Question 10

Evaluation weakness: challenged by the legal system

Answer 10

which states that criminals are morally responsible for their actions and cannot cite things such as having a biologically based disorder as an acceptable excuse for their crimes.

Question 11

Evaluation weakness: against hard determinism

Answer 11

Roberts et al (2000) who found that people who believed in fatalism were more likely to be depressed than those who had an internal locus of control.