Free Will And Determinism

Question 1

Describe free will

Answer 1

1. Entirely self-determining and free to chose own actions and thoughts
2. Does not ignore other influences but says we can reject these forces

Question 2

Describe hard determinism

Answer 2

1. All behaviour has a cause
2. Scientific view as ‘cause and effect’
3. Internal or external force

Question 3

Describe soft determinism

Answer 3

1. Cog approach

2. Although restricted by causal factors, we play a meditating role in what we chose

Question 4

Describe biological determinism

Answer 4

1. We can not control our physiology
2. Such as fight or flight reflex
3. Lots of conditions have genetic basis
4. Does recognise mediating element of environment of biological structures

Question 5

Describe environmental determinism

Answer 5

1. Free will an illusion

2. Sum of past conditioning and reinforcement history

Question 6

Describe psychic determinism

Answer 6

1. Biological drives and instincts
2. Behaviour controlled by unconscious conflicts and suppressed memories
3. Even slips of the tung

Question 7

Argument for determinism

Answer 7

1. Consistent with aim of science to establish cause
2. Led to drug treatments by isolating causal factor
3. Mental illness prove not free will as no one would choose to have

Question 8

Case against determinism

Answer 8

1. Not consistent with legal system

2. Basic idea all behaviour must have a cause even if not found yet is unfalsifiable

Question 9

Case for free will

Answer 9

1. Every day we seem to exercise free will so face validity
2. Those with high internal LOC at lower risk of depression than those with external LOC
3. Feeling of free will at least impacts mind and behaviour

Question 10

Case against free will

Answer 10

1. Brain knows if it will press left or right button 10 seconds before we are aware
2. Basic process determined by the brain before we are aware

Question 11

Internationalist approach

Answer 11

1. Most compressive image

2. Such as SLT with soft determinism