Free will and determinism

Question 1

Determinism

Answer 1

Behaviours are controlled by internal and external factors that we have no control over.

Question 2

Free will

Answer 2

Humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces.

Question 3

Hard determinism

Answer 3

Free will is not possible, behaviours is always caused by internal and external factors.

Question 4

Soft determinism

Answer 4

All events have causes but behaviour can also be controlled by conscious choice.

Question 5

Biological determinism

Answer 5

Behaviour is caused by genes and hormones- influences we can’t control.

Question 6

Environmental determinism

Answer 6

Behaviour is caused by environment that we can’t control.

Question 7

Psychic determinism

Answer 7

Behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we can’t control.

Question 8

For determinism

Answer 8

Led to the development of treatments and therapies. In terms of mental illness behaviour is determined.

Question 9

Against determinism

Answer 9

Not consistent with the legal system as offenders are held accountable for their actions.
It is unfalsifiable so may not be scientific.

Question 10

For free will

Answer 10

Everyday experiences involve free will through choices which gives face validity as it makes cognitive sense.
Roberts et al found that adolescents with a strong belief in fatalism were at greater risk of developing depression which suggests that if we think we have free will even when we don’t, it could positively impact on mind and behaviour.

Question 11

Against free will

Answer 11

Libet demonstrated that the brain activity that determines the outcome of simple choices, may predate our knowledge of having made those choices.
The activity related to whether to press a button with the left or right hand occurs in the brain up to ten seconds before participants report being consciously aware of making that decision.