Free Will and Determinism (Issues and Debates) Flashcards
Determinism
the view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal (biological) or external forces. This means that our behaviour should be predictable. Linked to the behaviourist, psychodynamic and biological approaches
Hard Determinism
• free will is not possible as our behaviour is always caused by internal and external events beyond our control
• Principles o science- to uncover laws that govern thought and action
• has three types
(Hard Determinism) Biological Determinism
the belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetic, hormone, evolutionary) influences we cannot control. Examples are: sociobiological theory of relationship formation (evolutionary), neural and genetic explanations of crime behaviour, physiological responses to stress (autonomic nervous system), mental health (genetic bases)
(Hard Determinism) Environmental Determinism
the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment (such as systems of reward and punishment) that we cannot control. Examples are: behaviourist approach, conditioning, token economy, differential association theory, agents of socialisation
(Hard Determinism) Psychic Determinism
the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts we cannot control. Examples are: Freud (biological drives and instincts are determined and directed by unconscious conflict), Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory
Soft Determinism
• The idea that behaviour, actions or traits are to an extent governed or dictated by internal and external forces
• we still have some element of control/free will to control our behaviour
The Humanistic Approach and Free Will
• Roger’s client-centred therapy
• Removal of psychological barrier leads to self-actualisation
• individuals are in control of their behaviour and are trying to achieve personal growth
The case for free will
• everyday experience ‘gives the impression’ are exercising free will on a daily basis, giving face validity to the concept
• Roberts et al. (2000) found that adolescents with a strong belief in fatalism were at a significantly greater risk of developing depression
• this suggests that the belief we have free will may have a positive effect on our mind and behaviour
• more likely to be supported by those with higher internal locus of control, less likely to develop depression
The case against free will
• neurological studies of decision-making have revealed evidence against of free will
• Chun Siong Soon et al. (2008): found evidence that brain activity determines the activity of simple choices. For example, whether we press a button with our left or right hand, this occurs in the brain up to 10 seconds before participants reported being consciously aware of making such a decision
Scientific Determinism (a case for determinism)
• scientific research is based on the belief that all events have a cause. An IV is manipulated to observe the causal effect, the DV
• Harlow’s (1959) research on attachment involving an IV (wire mother with milk or cloth covered) and a DV (attachment formed). The result demonstrated that contact comfort, not food, determined the formation of an attachment.
• scientists can predict and control events in the future
• removal of extraneous variables to precisely control and predict human behaviour
The case for determinism
• consistent with the aims of science
• prediction and control of human behaviour has led to the development of treatments, therapies and behavioural interventions
• mental health disorders seem to limit free will: people with schizophrenia can experience a total loss of control over thoughts and behaviour
• mental health- behaviour is determined
Case against Determinsim
• hard determinism is inconsistent with the way our legal system operates in which people are morally accountable for their actions
• Mobley case on showbie
• determinism is unfalsifiable, do the behaviours always exist
Free Will and the Law
• the basis of moral responsibility it that an individuals in charge of their own actions, i.e. can exercise free will
• the law stats that children and those who are mentally unwell do not have this responsibility, but otherwise there is the assumption, in our society, that ‘normal’ adult behaviour is self determined
• in other words, humans are accountable for their actions, regardless of innate factors or the influence of early experience
• law of diminished responsibility
A compromise between Determinism and Free Will
• best outcome could be soft determinism
• this could be:
—social learning theory: suggested we have free will but environmental factors can also have an impact on behaviour
—Bandura: choose who or what to attend to and when to perform certain behaviours
—Cognitive: patterns in how the bran processes external information and what behaviours this leads to
—it acknowledges that people use cognitive processes such as language to reason and make decisions
