Free will and determinism ID Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

free will

A

the notion that humans can make choices and their behaviour/thoughts are not determined by biological or external forces

Humans are self-determining. The humanistic approach advocates free will highly.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Determinism

A

the view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individual’s will to do something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

hard determinism

A

the view that all behaviour is caused by something so free will is an illusion

fatalism, behaviour has a cause, extreme position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

soft determinism

A

the view that behaviour may be predictable but there is also room for personal choice from a limited range of possibilities

James, important feature in cognitive approach, freedom to make rational conscious choices in everyday situations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Biological determinism

A

the belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences that we cannot control

emphasised by biological approach, influence of autonomic nervous system on the stress response, or genes and mental health

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Environmental determinism

A

the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment that we cannot control

Skinner described free will as an illusion as behaviour is as a result of conditioning, our experience of choice is the impact of reinforcement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Psychic determinism

A

the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control

Freud believed free will is an illusion but we have biological drives and instincts, unconscious conflicts repressed in childhood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The scientific emphasis on causal explanations

A
  • Causes can be explained by general laws (hard determinism)
  • This knowledge is important for scientists
  • Lab studies is ideal for determining causal relationships
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

practical value

strength

A
  • There is a common sense view that we exercise free will in our everyday lives
  • But thinking we do can improve our mental health
  • Roberts et al looked at teenagers with a strong belief in fatalism
  • They were significantly at greater risk of developing depression as people who have an external rather than internal locus of control are less likely to be optimistic
    Even if we do not have free will, the fact that we believe we do may have a positive effect on behaviour.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The law

limitation

A

Limitation of determinism but strength for free will is the position of the legal system on responsibility
* Hard determinism
* Not consistent with the way our legal system operates
* The main principle of our legal system is that a defendant exercised their free will in committing a crime
In the real world, determinist arguments do not work.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

research evidence counterpoint

strength

A
  • Libets findings are just as we would expect
  • Just because the action comes before the conscious awareness to act, doesn’t mean that there was no decision to act but that it took time for the decision to reach consciousness
    Not appropriate to challenge free will
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Research evidence

limitation

A

Brain scan evidence does not support free will but it does support determinism
* Libet et al instructed participants to choose a random moment to flick their wrist while he measured brain activity using an EEG
* Participants spoke when they felt the conscious will to move
* He found that the unconscious brain activity leading up to the conscious decision to move came around half a second before the participant consciously felt like they decided to move
Can be interpreted as meaning that the most basic experiences of free will are actually determined by our brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly